§ 58. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that on 1st February, 1927, 227,094 houses were under construction or authorised, and on 1st February, 1928, the number was only 146,761; and, seeing that this drop is due to the fact that the demand for houses for sale is being met, whilst the demand for houses for renting is still serious, particularly among the poorer wage earners, whether he will use his utmost influence to stimulate local authorities to undertake wide schemes of building for letting, and to this end will he consider restoring the subsidy to its original amount for this class of house?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe figures quoted by my Noble Friend were given by me in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. Wellock) on the 23rd ultimo. It has for some time past, been the policy of my Department to encourage the erection, under the subsidy scheme, of houses which can be let at rentals within the means of the less well-paid workers, and a Circular, which was issued by me more than a year ago, referred to this matter. The reduction of the subsidy has been followed by a considerable fall in the prices of houses, thus facilitating the erection of this type of house. I am afraid that the course suggested by my Noble Friend would only result in a return to higher prices.