§ 40. Mr. E. D. SIMONasked the Minister of Health the number of houses built for letting under the 1924 Housing Act and completed in the year ended 30th September, 1927, and the annual rate of building in the six months ended 31st March, 1930, based on the number of similar houses completed during that period?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe number of houses completed in England and Wales under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, during the year ended 30th September, 1927, was 97,316, and during the six months ended 31st March, 1930, was 25,078. I am not prepared to base a figure for 12 months' output on the figures of the six months which include the winter months, and as regards the figure for 1927 it is to be remembered that it includes the abnormal building which preceded the change of subsidy on the 30th of September of that year.
§ Mr. SIMONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the Wheatley Act working-class houses are now being built at half the rate, and will he take some action in view of the tragic situation?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am aware that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension on this question.
§ Sir K. WOODIs it not a fact, as shown by these figures, that there is a considerable decrease, and is not that a most deplorable result?
§ Mr. GOSSLINGMay I ask whether the number of houses built under the Wheatley Act during the 11 (months July to May, 1928, compared with the 11 months of last year, show that there was an increase of 13,000?
§ 43. Sir K. WOODasked the Minister of Health the number of State-assisted houses completed under the Housing Act, 1924, for the quarter ended 30th September, 1929, and the number completed for the last quarter for which figures are now available?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe numbers are 17,730 and 11,351. The latter is the number of houses completed in the quarter ended 30th June, 1930.
§ Sir K. WOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that this is a deplorable result?
§ Mr. GREENWOODNo, Sir. I cannot compare the September quarter with the June quarter.
Sir F. HALLCan the right hon. Gentleman compare satisfactorily any of the periods of three months of last year with the same periods when the Conservative Government were in power?
§ Mr. GREENWOODYes, certainly.