Mr. ALFRED T. DAVIESasked the Minister of Health what number of houses are being erected under the scheme sanctioned by the Ministry for the London County Council; whether he is aware that on or about July, 1921, there was a waiting list for such County Council dwellings of over 20,000 separate applicants; that in Wandsworth alone only approximately 530 houses have been sanctioned, while the waiting list is upwards of 6,000 separate applicants; and what does the Ministry propose to do in aiding the large number of applicants who cannot find suitable healthy residences in the Metropolitan area?
Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Health whether the Government sanctioned the building of 29,000 new houses in London; whether the London County Council had registered 23,000 applications by June, 1921; whether the Government has now reduced the number of houses to 9,000; and what steps the Government propose to take to find suitable accommodation for the remaining 14,000 registered applicants?
§ Sir A. MONDThe approval originally given to the proposal of the London County Council to build 29,000 new dwellings in the course of five years was withdrawn in June last when the Government decided that owing to the urgent need for reducing national expenditure the number of houses to be erected by local authorities in England and Wales with State assistance under the present scheme must be limited. Of the houses which the London County Council have been authorised to build over 5,200 were in building on 1st March and some 2,000 had not yet been started; they have, therefore, a very considerable programme still in hand.