§ Mr. OLIVERI beg to present a Petition praying for an extension of time for the completion of houses at Heanor in order to qualify for the full grant under the Housing Act of 1923–4. The Petitioners are the Urban District Council of Heanor, in the County of Derby. On the 2nd of March of this year the Council decided to build 50 houses in their district under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, in expectation that such houses would be completed before 1st October this year, so as to entitle them to receive the full grant of £9 per house per annum for 40 years. The contract provided for the completion of the work on or before the 1st October, and the same was prepared in the form suggested by the Minister of Health, which gives the architect power of make allowance to the contractors for time lost through inclement weather. Owing to the exceptionally wet season, the contractors were unable to get the houses finished by the 1st October, there having been 21 days during he period when no outside work could be done—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is only entitled to give a short summary of the Petition.
§ Mr. OLIVERI hope I am giving an extremely short summary. I have finished now. There having been 21 days during the period when no outside work could be done, and many others upon which work was interrupted, the Petitioners pray that on the above-mentioned grounds the time allowed for completion be extended to the 30th November or for such relief as this House may decide. The Petition is signed by Mr. B. D. Elliot, Chairman of the Council, and by Mr. F. Cattle, Clerk to the Council.