Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Health what subsidies he is paying in respect of new house construction during the war, on what lines and to what extent.
§ Mr. WillinkThe amounts and conditions of the subsidies which I have authority to pay on new houses are set352W out in Sections 1 to 3 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1938. Owing to the restricted amounts of labour and materials available proposals for the erection of subsidised houses have been entertained only where the houses are urgently required in the interest of war-time food production for agricultural workers. Approximately 1,200 such houses have been built in the last 12 months. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is paying an additional capital sum of 150 per dwelling on such of these houses as are included in the Government programme of 3,000 cottages announced last year.