§ 32. Mr. HAYESasked the Minister of Health whether he will make inquiries of the local authority as to the prices received by private builders for houses built under the scheme of the local authority in Torquay, and as to whether the builders received the subsidy granted both by the Exchequer and the local authority in addition to the agreed prices?
29. Mr. GREENWOODasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in Torquay contracts were entered into between builders and house purchasers, in accordance with a scheme of the local authority, for the building of houses at a price of £550 each, and that the subsidy under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, and the subsidy paid by the local authority, amounting in all to £120, was retained by the builders who thereby received £670 per house; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that the assistance given from public funds is reflected in the price of houses to the purchasers?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware of the exact selling price in individual cases, but I understand that the scheme adopted by the local authority in December, 1923, prescribed a maximum figure of £600 inclusive of land but on the basis that the builder would, in addition, be entitled to receive the subsidy of £120. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Torquay in reply to a question in December last, I communicated with the local authority in regard to the operation of their scheme for assisting private enterprise; steps were taken to improve the administration and the scheme was brought to an end more than two years ago.