§ Colonel Burtonasked the Minister of Health the number of new houses built since 1st July, 1944; and whether reconstruction and building since that date have kept pace with destruction by enemy action.
§ Mr. WillinkThe number of new houses completed since 1st July, 1944, is 902. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No, Sir."
§ Lady Apsleyasked the Minister of Health if he will state the policy of the Government with regard to the participation of private enterprise in new house construction in respect of any subsidy from the taxes and rates, the supply of labour and materials and the price fixation of such materials as are controlled by the State, respectively.
§ Mr. WillinkThe Government propose to introduce legislation to provide Exchequer subsidy for houses built by private enterprise during the early post-war period, subject to conditions as to size, 745W construction, selling price and rent, and to enable local authorities to make supplementary contributions from the rates. Materials will be available for approved schemes, subject to such controls of price or otherwise as may be in operation at the time; and, as indicated in the White Paper on Re-allocation of Man-Power between the Armed Forces and Civilian Employment (Cmd. 6548), special arrangements are being made to supplement the labour force available for building houses after the defeat of Germany.