§ 22. Mr. Granville Sharpasked the Minister of Health how many houses were completed by local authorities in each of the years 1919 to 1924 inclusive; and how many working class houses were completed by private enterprise in the same years.
§ Mr. BevanThe exact figures cannot be given, but I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures which are available.
§ Following are the figures:
§ completed, building and authorised in each case.
§ Mr. BevanI am sending my hon. Friend approximate figures which have been provided by the local authorities concerned. On the second part of the 1063 Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Monthly Housing Return.
§ 24. Mr. Cocksasked the Minister of Health the number of applicants for houses on the list of each of the 17 largest cities and of the London County Council together with the number of houses completed, building and authorised in each case.
§ Mr. BevanI regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. On the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Monthly Housing Return.
§ Mr. BevanIt would be possible to obtain them from the local authorities concerned, but I am not anxious to give them, for the simple reason that they are by no means accurate. Many of the lists are entirely out-of-date, many of them have duplicated applications and in many instances individuals who have found other accommodation have not notified the authorities. Therefore, the lists are not reliable guides to the situation.
§ 25. Mr. Cocksasked the Minister of Health whether he will give the total number of applicants for houses on the lists of local housing authorities in England and Wales.
§ Major Guy LloydWould the right hon. Gentleman accept a suggestion from me and circulate to each of the applicants a full statement of the various promises made by hon. Members opposite about housing?
§ Mr. BevanIt would be awfully difficult to select the applicants from the non-applicants, and an army of clerks would be required.