§ Mr. BRIANTasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of the subsidy on houses by the Rochford District Council; if he is aware of the scarcity of and demand for houses, and the number of men usually employed in the building trade who are at present out of work, as reported at the Employment Exchanges in the district; and if he will take steps to induce the council to resume the encouragement of house building?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINApproval was given to a proposal of the district council to grant subsidies in respect of a further 100 houses a few weeks ago. I understand that the Council have come to the conclusion that the need for the grant of subsidies in their area is passing, and they have proposed, for the present, to limit themselves to the exercise of the authority for 100 houses recently given to them. I am informed that there are practically no skilled building workers unemployed in the neighbourhood, and that there has been a serious rise in the cost of building houses in the district. I am, however, obtaining further informa- 2311W tion from the Council with a view to advising them as to their policy in the immediate future.