§ Mr. HEPWORTHasked the Minister of Health the cheapest types of council houses which are being constructed or planned to accommodate persons from clearance and other areas who have to be rehoused; the rents in these cases, indicating whether they are economic or not; and whether he will consider the advisability of placing draft plans of such houses in the Library of the House?
Sir H. YOUNGThe experience of my Department shows that the details of the plan adopted by a local authority are not generally the dominant factor in securing moderate building costs. These costs turn to a much larger extent upon the availability of local materials and the resources of the contractors who submit tenders, and upon the details of the specifications adopted. Generally it may be said that reasonably sized two-storied flats, or cottages in groups of six or eight where sites lend themselves to this arrangement, are the form of construction for which low tenders are most likely to be obtained. In these circumstances, I do not think there would be advantage in drawing further attention to particular types or designs of house. I am, however, sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Housing Manual on the design, construction and repair of dwellings issued by my Department in 1927, in which he will find a number of typical designs. I am not informed of the rents actually charged for houses built by local authorities.