§ Major G. DAVIESasked the Minister of Health how many houses have been built at Oldbury to the last convenient date under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924, and what is the reason that further progress has been held up?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINBetween the passing of the Housing Act of 1923 and the 31st January last, the erection of 358 houses by the council and 575 houses by private builders has been approved. In October last the council put forward a provisional programme for a further 262 houses to be erected by the end of 1927. At that time they were behindhand with their existing contracts, and to avoid an undue congestion of the housing programme, with consequent adverse effect 1601W on building prices and delay in the completion of contracts, I gave my approval only to a first instalment of 50 houses. Early last December the council were informed that if prices for this instalment IN ere satisfactory and further satisfactory tenders could be obtained early this year, I would agree to their proceeding with a further 100 houses. An application was made at the beginning of the present month, and I have now approved the erection of a further 100 houses, subject in the case of 56 to satisfactory tenders being approved. The council have not dissented from my view that the putting out of contracts should be so regulated as to maintain, as far as possible, a steady and continued output of houses.