§ 41. Mr. E. D. SIMONasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the unskilled labourer with a family is normally unable to pay the rents which are being charged for the new subsidised municipal houses, and that the subsidies are to a great extent being given to persons who could reasonable afford to live in an unsubsidised house; and whether he is prepared to in- 2132 quire into the extent of this misdirection of the subsidy with a view to the possibility of preventing it by legislation or otherwise?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am aware that in some cases the rents of houses provided under the Housing Act of 1924 are more than the lowest paid workers are able to afford but, as the hon. Member is aware, the financial arrangements of the Housing Act of 1930 will enable local authorities to let a substantial proportion of the houses provided by them under that Act at rents within the means of these workers. I am not aware that local authorities who are responsible for the management of the houses provided under the Housing Acts are letting them to persons for whom they are not intended—nor am I aware of any general misdirection of subsidy such as the hon. Member suggests. If he is in a position to give me any information on the subject I shall be glad to consider it.