§ Mr. RYEasked the Minister of Health if he has any record of the arrears of 587W rent and rates owing in respect of houses owned by local authorities; and, if so, what amounts were owing at the date of the latest returns?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINLocal authorities are not required to render returns of arrears of rents and rates in respect of houses owned by them, and no such returns are in fact made. The only records in my Department as regards arrears of rent are contained in the assisted scheme accounts rendered by local authorities under the 1919 Housing Act, but these, of course, refer only to houses provided under that Act.