§ 31. Mr. RYEasked the Minister of Health if it is the intention of the Government to advance money to approved building societies at a low rate of interest and for a fixed period of years, to enable such societies to accelerate advances required for the erection of houses for the working classes: and, if so, what amount will be advanced, at what rate of interest, and for what period?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Neville Chamberlain)No, Sir. The Housing Acts already make provisions for assisting the erection of houses by the grant of subsidies and by providing facilities for the raising of capital, including arrangements for the guaranteeing by local authorities of part of the advances by building societies.
§ Mr. RYEDoes my right hon. Friend not think it advisable to use these well-known organisations for the purpose of facilitating the building of houses for the working classes?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. That is the purpose of the provisions to which I have referred.
§ 32. Mr. RYEasked the Minister of Health if he has any return from the building societies of the number of 2456 houses erected, up to 31st December last, with the assistance of financial aid from such societies and without, respectively?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:have made inquiries of the Registrar of Friendly Societies and of the Building Societies Association, but statistics on the point referred to by my hon. Friend are not available.