§ 29. Mr. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Health whether private enterprise, in their plans for post-war housing, should proceed on the assumption that there will be a Government subsidy similar to that granted to local authorities?
§ Mr. E. BrownI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply, of which I am sending him a copy, which I gave on 1st July to a Question on this subject by my hon. 2242 Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis).
§ Mr. BossomWhat is the size of this subsidy? Will it be made irrespective of total costs?
§ Mr. BrownIf the hon. Member will read the former answer, of which I will send a copy to him also, he will see that his question does not arise.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisWhat is the underlying motive of subsidising local authorities and placing them in a more favourable position than private enterprise?
§ Mr. BrownIt was found after the last war that there is a field of operations for private enterprise in which it can do its work and build the houses.
§ Mr. Evelyn WalkdenCould the right hon. Gentleman not tell the House whether he is seriously considering offering building subsidies to private enterprise?
§ Mr. BrownPerhaps I had better read the answer which I gave:
No, Sir, I would remind my hon. Friend that despite the absence of subsidy large numbers of houses were built by private enterprise during the years before the war."—[OFFICIAL, REPORT, 1st July, 1943; col. 1762, Vol. 390.]
§ Mr. WakefieldMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether that means that the amount of subsidy given to local authorities is the measure of their inefficiency for building houses compared with private enterprise?
§ Mr. BrownNot at all. It means that the vital experience of 20 years after the last war proved that there was a field in which local authority operation was the right operation and another field in which private enterprise was the right operation.