§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Minister of Health what, in proportion to the cost of the buildings constructed under Government subsidy, is the lowest non-economic rent charged in any part of the 406W country; what is the highest non-economic rent in its relation to the actual economic rent; and whether he has had occasion up to the present to make any representation, and, if so, of what nature, as to too high or too low non-economic rents?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am unable to state the lowest or highest rent in relation to the cost of building as in many cases the houses already let form part of a large contract still uncompleted. Generally the rents agreed between the Ministry and the local authorities vary from 5s. 6d. per week in rural villages for cottages containing a living room and three bedrooms to 23s. per week in urban areas for houses containing two living rooms, scullery and four bedrooms, in each case exclusive of rates. I have had to make representations in many cases to local authorities with a view to their charging a higher rent than they proposed.