§ Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Health if he has received the Reports of the Tonbridge Council and the Newbury Council on the result of their direct building scheme; and how much is claimed to have been saved on the contractors' estimate?
§ Sir A. MONDPreliminary reports have been received as to the cost of a certain number of completed houses. In the case of Tonbridge the reports indicate that there is a substantial saving as compared with similar houses built under contract, but until the accounts have been adjusted the precise figure cannot be stated. The reported cost of the first 20 houses of various types erected at New-bury ranges from £987 to £1,147, the latter figure relating to a large type of house. No houses are being built at Newbury by contract, but the tender submitted in November, 1919, by the Master Builders' Federation was £760 for an average parlour-type house. It must be remembered, however, that increases which have occurred since the date of the tender in cost of labour and materials would have considerably increased this figure.