§ 38. Sir PARK GOFFasked the Minister of Health whether, in the interests of economy, he will notify local authorities that the housing grants from public funds were not intended by this House to provide houses for persons in a position to pay economic rents or to buy houses through building societies, and that subsidy houses should be reserved for the wage earners for whom they were and are intended?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Ernest Brown)The attention of local authorities was directed to this matter in the Annual Report of the Department for the year 1930–31. In his report for the year 1931–32 my right hon. Friend proposes to deal further with the maintenance of the principle that subsidised tenancies should not be provided for those who can afford to provide for themselves.
§ Sir P. GOFFIs my hon. Friend aware that this subsidy is being abused and that a careful scrutiny of the applicants would save some millions of national expenditure?
§ Mr. BROWNIf my hon. Friend will look at page 98 of the Report to which I have referred, he will find the matter dealt with fully.