§ 61. Mr. Johnstonasked the Minister of Health whether he can give any estimate of the increased cost, over the cost of 1914, of repairs in the classes of house property affected by the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Acts; and whether he can give comparable figures for the years 1920, 1930, and 1937, respectively?
§ Sir K. WoodAs the answer is somewhat involved and contains a number of figures, I will, with the right hon. Gentleman's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ In the Majority Report of the Marley Committee the approximate comparative cost of repairs was estimated as follows:
| 1914 | … | … | 100 |
| 1920 | … | … | 250–280 |
| 1930 | … | … | 180–200 |
§ After making allowance for the higher standard of repairs and the increased age of the houses the Marley Committee concluded that the cost of repairs to working class houses in 1930 was about twice what it was in 1914. The majority of the Ridley Committee expressed the view in paragraph 106 of their report that the position at the date of their investigation was substantially the same as in 1930.