§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is proposed to build 250,000 up-to-date houses for the working classes; whether, as there is no likelihood of these houses producing an economic rent until several years after the War, it is proposed that the State, which is to provide 75 per cent. of the capital, will bear the loss on that contribution, while the local authorities will bear the loss on 25 per cent.; and, seeing that the workers in Irish towns are sadly in need of improved dwellings, can he say if Ireland will come into the scheme, and what proportion of the 250,000 houses will be allotted to her?
Mr. FISHERI have sent the hon. Member a copy of my circular letter of the 18th March last to the local authorities of England and Wales, from which he will see the terms upon which State assistance is to be given to those local authorities who build houses for the working classes at the conclusion of the War. The last part of the question would seem to be one which should be addressed to the Chief Secretary for Ireland.