45. Mr. SIMONasked the Prime Minister whether, having regard on the one hand to the magnitude and complexity of the housing problem and on the other to the burden of other work which devolves on the Ministry of Health, he will consider the advisability of transferring the duty of administering the Housing Acts either to a National Housing Council or to the Minister of Public Works?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)I am advised that as hous- 2392 ing is primarily a function of the local authorities it would not add to efficient administration if the central responsibility for it were divorced from the Ministry of Health.
§ Sir K. WOODDoes not the Prime Minister think, having regard to the fact that there are 130,000 builders out of work at the present time, that some special effort, some special system, is necessary?