asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, having regard to the danger of the prices of building materials being increased by trusts and combines in view of the Governments subsidy to houses, he will consider the possibility of counteracting such a move by means of a costings system and full publicity of all in ice movements and trade agreements:

(2) whether he is aware that the original rules of the Light Castings Association definitely stated that one of its objects was to raise and keep up prices against the buyers by pooling arrangements which so controlled production as to keep it just below the demand; and what steps he proposes to take to circumvent, such a policy at the present time, which would inevitably raise the price of houses that the Government propose to subsidise?

I would rfeer the hon. Member to the answers given by the Minister of Health yesterday to the hon. Members for Derby and Batley and Morley.

Arising out of the answer given yesterday by the Minister of Health, who stated that this Committee was making only a survey, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is time that. something more was done, and will he not give publicity to the findings of that survey?

It is precisely in order that publicity and accurate information should be available to the public that this Committee was set up.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that the tenants of the houses erected by the Renfrewshire County Council at Jenny Lind. Thornlie-bank, are stilt without a supply of gas although they have been in occupation for more than nine months of houses designed for the exclusive use of gas for lighting, cooking, and washing; and what steps he is prepared to take to secure a proper supply of gas?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, my hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties which have been encountered in this case and of the steps which have been taken to overcome them. I have reason to anticipate that the matter will he satisfactorily adjusted at an early date.

As I got precisely the same answer four months ago, can my hon. and gallant Friend give the House any guarantee that this very minor dispute between his Department and the local authorities will be settled within the next five years?

Four months ago I did not give the answer, But I can tell the bon. Member that I am perfectly prepared to guarantee that it will not be five, years before this question is settled. [HON. MEMBERS: "Will it be four? "]

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware of the fact that, owing to the large decreases in wages during the past two years, many of the tenants in the housing schemes in the burgh of Renfrew, the majority of whom are ex-service men, will be forced to vacate their houses on account of the high rentals insisted upon by the Scottish Board A Health; and if he is prepared to fix the rentals for the coming year on the scale suggested by the Renfrew Town Council Housing Committee?

Representations on the lines stated have been made by the town council to the Scottish Board of Health. Having regard to the rules laid down in the Financial Assistance to Local Authorities Regulations for the determination of rents, the Board are not prepared to agree to any reduction on the rents fixed by the Rents Tribunal or on the, other rents approved by the Board on the basis of the rents fixed by the tribunal. If the town council are dissatisfied with the Board's dicision it is open to them to appeal against it to the tribunal.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware that. a number of men who are unable to obtain accommodation in Stornoway for themselves and their families, and who were not put in possession of small holdings, have, since the summer of 1921, been occupying, with their families, huts erected by them on the barren moorlands a few miles from the town; that the said moorland is now claimed to be part of the common grazings, and that the corner of it taken up by the huts is of little or no value, and had not been used by the adjacent. crofters: that legal proceedings have been taken in the local Sheriff Court for the removal, or ejection, or eviction of these men and their families from the said huts, although no other shelter is available for them; whether the company that claims to own the Lews, and of which Lord Leverhulme is chief director, is a party to these proceedings: whether the Board of Agriculture has power to acquire part of this moorland as sites for houses: whether the Board has been approached on the subject: and whether it intends to use its powers in time to provide for the occupants of the huts above referred to?

My Noble Friend is informed that land at Marybank on the Coulregein Common grazings was occupied in 1921 in the manner stated in the first part of the question. He understands that legal proceedings in the Sheriff Court have been taken by the proprietors. The Board of Agriculture have certain powers under Section 14 of the Land Settlement Act, 1919, to apply to the Land Court for the apportionment of common grazing land as sites for houses. The Board have been approached on the subject, and have found that the land on which the huts stand is unsuitable for housing sites owing to insufficient drainage. The Board are making inquiry as to the possibility of suitable alternative ground being available.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health how many houses have been provided for farm workers in Scotland, either by local authorities under The Housing and Town Planning (Scotland) Act. 1919, or under the private builders' subsidy scheme?

I regret that I am unable to give the information asked for by the hon. Member. Under The Housing, Town Planning, etc. (Scotland) Act, 1919, a number of houses have been built in rural areas with State assistance under schemes prepared by Scottish local authorities, but these schemes have reference to the housing of the working classes generally and do not distinguish between the different occupations of workers for whom the houses were erected. As I stated in reply to the question addressed to me by the hon. and learned Member for East Fife on 20th March, houses have been provided for farm workers under the private builders' subsidy scheme, but information as to the number is not available.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend inform me whether any buildings have been provided for farm-workers in Scotland under any other Acts?

Oh, yes; buildings have certainly been provided for farm workers, as I know from my own knowledge.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the fact that the Holme Cultram Urban Council of Cumberland are compelled to impose a rate of 1s. 1·d annually for sea-wall defence, and whether, having regard to the fact that this is a national service, he will consider the question of making it a national charge?

I had not previously heard of the rate referred to in the question. The general question was fully considered by a Royal Coin-mission which reported in 1911 very definitely against placing the burden on the Exchequer, pointing out that such a course might easily lead to an enormous expenditure. from public funds, and I ant not prepared to reopen the question.