§ 11. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the estimated gross cost per house, including land and connection to main sewers and water and light and power services, of the houses now being built in the county borough of Oldham; and whether he will state the detailed method of financing these houses, showing the respective burdens upon national and local expenditure.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanI am not responsible for the detailed financial arrangements of individual local authorities; the standard annual subsidies per house are £26 14s. from the Exchequer and not less than £8 18s. from the local rates. For general information about the cost of house-building, I would refer the hon. Member to the Reports of the Girdwood Committee.
§ Mr. HaleIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cost of house building has been going up continually since he took office and has now reached an unprecedentedly high figure, that in Oldham the size of houses has gone down as the prices have gone up, and that the burden now being placed upon the community is a very serious one indeed? Does he not propose to do anything about it?
§ Mr. MacmillanThe hon. Gentleman has made a speech. He has not asked a question. It would take a long time to reply to it in detail.