§ 25. Mr. DENMANasked the Minister of Health whether he is now prepared to encourage local authorities which have made adequate progress with their slum-clearance schemes to build unsubsidised houses in cases where the needs are not being met from other sources?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREYes, Sir. Local authorities desiring to build unsubsidised houses in the circumstances indicated are encouraged to do so. On this matter I would further refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's statement in the Debate on the Address.
§ Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the kind of encouragement given by local authorities to build houses greatly handicaps building under the Housing Act of 1933?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe conditions have been made perfectly clear. Where private enterprise has failed to meet the housing needs of an area the local authority in that area can apply for our sanction to provide unsubsidised houses.
§ Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISPrivate enterprise has not failed, but the local authorities are showing persistent opposition to the 1933 Act.