asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will facilitate loans to local authorities for housing schemes, thus doing something to abate unemployment in the building trade consequent on war?

As my right hon. Friend stated yesterday, we are urging local authorities to make plans for the execution of works which will give employment to considerable bodies of labour, and the Local Government Board have promised to facilitate any such schemes. My right hon. Friend is also in communication with the Treasury on the subject.