§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that on one of the building estates of the London County Council a group of 90 tenements is being erected at a sum which involves an annual cost per house of £80 16s. 10d., including the cost of maintenance, management, interest, and sinking fund charges, or at the rate of £1 11s. 1d. per week; that the houses are to be let at a rent of 12s. 3d. per week, leaving a deficiency of £49 4s. 7d. per annum or 18s. 11d. per week to be met out of public funds; that on another estate of the London County Council it is estimated that the total outgoings will amount to £129 8s. 6d. per annum, or £2 9s. 9d. per week, per house; that the rent will amount to £40 5s. 4d. per annum, or 15s. 6d. per week, per house, leaving a balance of £89 3s. 2d. per annum, or £1 14s. 3d. per week, per house to be met out of public funds; whether, on the 14th April, 1919, he estimated the loss per week to the State at 5s. per house built; and whether he still considers that estimate to be accurate?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have seen the estimates made by the London County Council to which the hon. Member refers, and, although I hope the actual cost, when ascertained, will show some saving on these estimates, I am afraid that the cost of the schemes in question will prove to be very high The scheme to which the second estimate refers, however, is very exceptional, as it possesses expensive features which are not common to other schemes. My estimate of loss per week to the State made in April, 1919, was based on the estimated cost of building at that time. There has not only boon a very large increase in the cost of building since that date, but also a considerable increase in the cost of money.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Minister of Health whether the London County Council has been notified that the development of the major portion of the estate at Beacontree will not rank for grant; and the approximate number of persons to be rehoused under the original five years' scheme of the London County Council as approved by his Department, and the reduction in that number caused by the decision not to proceed with the whole of the Beacontree estate?
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§ Dr. ADDISONNo, Sir; what the London County Council have been informed is that, having regard to the slow rate of progress on the Ilford section of the estate, due to the difficulty of obtaining skilled labour, they must concentrate for the present on that part of the estate. I may add that, with the present available labour, it will take many years to complete the houses to be provided even on this section of the estate.