§ 28. Dr. SALTERasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the reduction of £30 per house in the price of non-parlour houses included in contracts let by local authorities during the three months ended in January, 1928, as compared with the corresponding period last year, he is in a position to state that the latest types of non-parlour houses contracted for by local authorities were in all respects and in every case equal to those contracted for in January, 1927, as regards quality of construction, floor area, and amenities?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIn order to qualify for subsidy under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924 houses must comply with the prescribed conditions as to materials and construction. Local authorities are not, generally, required to submit for my approval details of their schemes, but I have no reason to believe that the quality of construction or amenities in the houses provided now are not up to the standard prevailing a year ago. The average floor area of non-parlour houses provided during the three months ended in January, 1928, was 788.7 superficial feet as compared with 790 superficial feet during the three months ended in January, 1927.