§ Captain ERSKINE-B0LSTasked the Minister of Health the number of houses which have been put in hand since he announced the cessation of subsidies; and how this figure compares with the total of such houses put in hand in the corresponding period of 1931–32?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI regret that figures in the form desired by my hon. Friend are not available, but the number of State-assisted houses included in contracts let and in direct labour schemes commenced by local authorities in England and Wales during the month of December, 1932, the last month for which such figures are at present available, was 4,576. The corresponding figure for the month of December, 1931, was 4,223. My right hon. Friend has no information as to the number of houses put in hand for erection without State assistance.