§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Health under which section of the 2224W Housing Act of 1923, he has imposed a limit of £700 on the cost of houses eligible for subsidy under that Act?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYBefore approving the proposals of a local authority for subsidising the erection of working-class houses, I am required by Section 2 of the Housing Act, 1923, to be satisfied that the need for the houses cannot be met without assistance under the Act. The question whether the subsidy should be available for houses of so high a cost as that indicated by the Noble Lord will depend on local circumstances. No general rule can be laid down, but I am of opinion that the price mentioned is too high for a working-class house.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Minister of Health the total number of houses for which subsidies have been applied for under the 1923 Act, and the total number sanctioned?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYApproval has been given to schemes providing for the erection of 135,660 houses, including 46,153 proposed to be built by local authorities and 89,507 by private enterprise. Contracts have been let by local authorities covering 28,754 houses, while in respect of the houses to be built by private enterprise definite arrangements have been made for 56,626 houses.