Sir F. HALLasked the Minister of Health if, when the Government gave its approval to the London County Council housing scheme at Dagenham, it had before it the council's proposals for dealing with the questions of transport, water supply, and drainage in connection with the scheme; if arrangements have been made with the railway companies concerned which ensure adequate transport facilities to and from the new estate; and if he will state what is the estimated total cost of the whole scheme on the basis of accommodating 250,000 persons, and what will be the charge on the rates when the scheme is completed with the rents fixed by the Council and assuming that all the houses erected are taken up?
§ Dr. ADDISONAll the matters referred to in the first part of my hon. Friend's question were considered in detail before approval was given, and the question of transport was also considered at length before approval of the Bite was given, including representations from the Ministry of Transport. There was not at any time, so far as I am aware, any intention of providing for as many as1158W 250,000 persons on the estate; and the present proposal of the London County Council, if the scheme is fully carried out, is to build about 18,000 houses sufficient for 80,000 or 90,000 persons. Owing to the extreme difficulty of obtaining skilled labour, progress at present is lamentably slow, and any estimate, either of the total number of houses to be built or of the ultimate cost, would be conjectural. In any event, the limit of a Id. rate will not be exceeded as the burden on London rates.