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Assisted Schemes

Volume 159: debated on Friday 15 December 1922

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asked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether, referring to the return supplied as to the allocation of houses to local authorities under the State-assisted housing scheme, he will say what is the reason for the disparities of allocation per 10,000 of the population, as shown by the 1921 Census, in the following cases: Liverpool, 72; Leeds, 72; Cardiff, 58, Nottingham, 56; Manchester, 52; Sheffield, 48; and whether, in view of the request of the Sheffield Corporation for a further allocation, he can, in view of the above figures, now grant the request?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the State Assisted Housing Scheme was limited in July, 1921, to the number of houses built, building, or contained in approved tenders at that date. It will be appreciated that, for various reasons, the number of houses contracted for at that date by the local authorities in question varied, and in view of the limitation on the number of houses to be erected, my right hon. Friend is not in a position to allocate any further houses to Sheffield.

asked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether the late Minister of Health, before leaving office, formulated a new State-assisted housing scheme whereby a further 80,000 houses could be provided through local authorities who were to receive a fixed State grant during the whole of the loan period of between £3 and £4 per annum for each house in order to relieve them of any serious financial loss; whether he approves of this scheme; and, if so, how soon he proposes to put it into operation, in view of the continued shortage of houses?

As I informed the hon. Member yesterday, the proposals of the late Minister of Health, with others, are under the consideration of the Government.