38 Mr. R. S. YOUNGasked the Minister of Health (1) if he can state the price paid by the London County Council for the land used for the Becontree housing estate, and the capital and/or rateable value of the same land prior to the negotiations for its purchase by the London County Council;
(2) the price paid by the London County Council for the land used for the Hornsey Rise housing estate, and the capital and/or rateable value of the same land prior to the negotiations for its purchase;
(3) the price paid by the London County Council for the land used for the Morden housing estate, and the capital and/or rateable value of the same land prior to the negotiations for its purchase?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am informed that the costs of the acquisition—including compensation and legal costs—of all interests in the lands acquired by the London County Council at Becontree, Hornsey Rise and Morden for housing purposes are £580,158, £11,447 and £360,231, respectively, and that the rateable values of the properties before the acquisition were £7,120, £1,125 and £2,130, respectively.
Mr. YOUNGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rents of these houses are very high and that large numbers of prospective tenants cannot pay them and cannot therefore go there? Does he think that is in any way due to the high price paid for the land?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIs it not a fact that the cost of the site per house would not exceed £25 in the case of all these houses?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI could not say without notice. Hornsey, for example, is in a built up area.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEIs it not a fact that the price is high because it has a very high market value?