§ Major PRESCOTTasked the Minister of Health whether he will give particulars of the rents sanctioned by his Department for the occupation of new houses recently 1381W completed by local authorities under the ægis of the Ministry; and the total cost of the subsidised houses in each case?
§ Sir A. MONDA return has recently been prepared showing the weekly rents which have been fixed for new houses completed by local authorities, and I am sending a copy to the hon. and gallant Member. Houses are, of course, occupied and rents fixed before the final costs under the contract are ascertained, but the total building costs of parlour houses, as far as particulars are available, vary from £797 to £1,266.
Captain COOTEasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the widespread prevalence of unemployment and the consequent distress in so many working-class homes and of the reductions in wages in so many industries, he will consider the withdrawal or postponement of the permission to increase rents by a further 10 per cent. next month?
§ Sir A. MONDI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister to a similar question on the 26th May.
Mr. ALFRED DAVIES (Clitheroe)asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will reconsider the decision to allow a further increase in rent on and after 1st July; whether he is aware that a considerable number of tenants will be unable to pay such increase, and that property owners' associations, notably in Padiham, have decided by resolution to postpone for a period the imposition of any further increase owing to the sustained depression in trade?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have not seen the resolution referred to, and I regret that I can add nothing to the previous replies on this subject.