§ 62. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities that have agreed to erect the steel houses; the gross amount of steel houses that will be built by local authorities; the number of local authorities that have refused to erect steel houses; and will he state the number of subsidy-assisted houses erected by local authorities to date?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINMany local authorities expressed their willingness to take part in the experiment for the erection of demonstration houses of the types chosen, but, as the number of such houses was limited to 85 pairs, it was only possible to invite selected local authorities. Of the local authorities invited, only four did not wish to take part in the experiment, but this does not imply hostility to steel houses, as one of those same authorities is now erecting 100 steel houses. It is too early yet to make any estimate of the number of steel houses which will be erected. As regards the 620 last part of the question, the number of houses completed by local authorities up to the 1st March under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924 was 19,230.
§ Colonel DAYWill the right hon. Gentleman say what is the number of local authorities that have agreed to adopt these steel houses?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. and gallant Member will put that question down, I will let him have the number.
§ Colonel DAYI have already put that down; it is in the first part of the question.
§ 66. Mr. WINDSORasked the Minister of Health whether he has yet approved for subsidy the erection of Weir houses by local authorities; and, if so, whether he will give particulars of the local authorities and the number and type of houses?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs the hon. Member is aware, arrangements are being made for the erection of Weir houses by a number of local authorities for demonstration purposes. Apart from these, I have not yet received any applications from local authorities for the erection of Weir houses, but I understand that some authorities are at present considering the matter.
§ 85. Mr. W. C. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Health the present cost of a Weir house of the non-parlour type with three bedrooms; and the average cost of a similar house built of brick?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware that any three-bedroomed Weir house has been erected in England and Wales, and I am not, therefore, in a position to give the information asked for in the first part of the hon. Member's question. The average cost of non-parlour houses in contracts let by local authorities during the month of February was £439.