§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the decision of the Board of Agriculture to leave local authorities a free hand in regard to charging the tenants of land under the Small Holdings Act with the cost of a sinking fund, he is prepared to give to district councils the same discretion in regard to housing?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Housing Acts contain no provision analogous to Section 25 (3) of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908. Consequently the question does not arise.
§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will support an inquiry into the question whether a Grant from the Treasury is essential to the working of the Housing Act on account of the inability of local authorities to let cottages at a rental sufficient to cover the sinking fund required?
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§ Mr. BURNSThe inquiry which is being conducted by the Departmental Committee of Local Taxation may be expected to extend to the question whether there should be any grant from the Exchequer to local authorities for public health services, including amongst those services action under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts.