§ Mr. PALINGasked the Minister of Health how many local authorities, who have built houses under the 1919 Housing Act, have received instructions that, in the event of such houses becoming vacant, they must increase the rents to the incoming tenants?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member apparently has in mind the case of a local authority who have determined the appropriate normal rent of houses in their area for the purpose of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, to be 8s. 6d. a week, which is 6d. a week higher than the rent charged by them for houses built under the assisted scheme of 1919. When this fact came to the notice of my Department the council were informed that, as opportunity offered the rents of the 1919 assisted scheme houses should be brought into line with the rents charged for the houses built under the Act of 1924. The question has arisen in the case of one local authority only.