Mr. C. EDWARDasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of houses built for sale under the Act of 1923 failed to secure buyers and that, on the application of certain local authorities, permission was given to transfer them to the Act of 1924; and whether, after this, they were let at rents similar to those built under the latter scheme?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware that in a few cases local authorities have, on application being made before the houses were occupied, and on giving the undertakings required by the Act, been granted subsidies under the Act of 1924 in respect of houses which it was originally intended to build for sale under the Act of 1923. The rents of such houses must, of course, comply with the conditions laid down in the Act of 1924, but from an examination of a number of cases it appears that the rents obtained by local authorities for houses built under the 1923 and 1924 Acts do not materially differ.