§ 42. Mr. STOURTONasked the Minister of Health if he can give an approximate estimate of the number of houses built since the War in urban areas to be Jet at an inclusive rent of 10s. a week or less?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREFull information as to inclusive rents is not available, and 1294 in any case would be subject to reserves in regard to such a factor as varying rate levels. If my hon. Friend has any particular area in mind, I would endeavour to obtain information for him as regards the houses built under subsidy in it.
§ Mr. STOURTONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a shortage of not less than a million of this type of houses, which is the root cause of the exorbitant rents that the working-classes have to pay for houses to-day; and can he state if the Government have any policy in view to deal with this serious state of affairs?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIf my hon. Friend had attended the last Debate on housing, he would have heard the policy.
§ Mr. STOURTONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government's housing policy has not been effective so far, and that the only way to deal with this question is to raise a substantial national housing development loan?