§ MR. W. CARTERasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a housing scheme has been agreed upon by the Mansfield Town Council, and that the scheme has been held up for months in consequence of the action of his Department; is 1169W he aware of the increase in the cost of building material since the scheme was first submitted to him; and will he, to avoid the possibility of further increases in charges and to facilitate the scheme in the interest of homeless families, give the question his immediate attention with a view to the scheme being immedately put into operation?
§ Dr. ADD1SONThe Mansfield Town Council have three housing schemes. The first is a small scheme for twenty-four houses for which tenders have been approved. The other two are larger schemes, in which difficulties have arisen over the price to be paid for the land. I am advised that the prices proposed to be paid by the council are excessive, and I have been unable to agree to them. Negotiations have taken place with a view to securing a reduction of the prices, but I am sorry to say that I have not received the assistance which I should expect from the council in the matter, and they have been unwilling to exercise their compulsory powers. I am glad to say, however, that a reduction in price has not been secured for one of the sites, and I hope that a satisfactory settlement may also be arrived at in the other case.