§ Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Health whether he has received a number of complaints, from small builders who have built workmen's houses under the 1923 Act, and have for various reasons been refused payment of the subsidy; and, in view of the fact that many of these men were under the impression when they commenced building that their houses would rank for subsidy, whether he is prepared to give special consideration to cases in which great hardship has been caused by non-payment?
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§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINI have from time to time received individual complaints to which I have given very careful consideration. In most cases, upon investigation, it has transpired that the houses had been commenced before the local authority's scheme for the assistance of private enterprise under the Housing Acts had been approved. As I have previously stated in the House, I am prepared to authorise the payment of the equivalent of the subsidy in cases in which houses were begun on the strength of assurances of subsidy by the local authority even though the authority's scheme had not been approved when the assurance was given; and in a considerable number of cases such a payment to the builder has been authorised.