View report page

175
CHAPTER V.
HOUSING.
Prior to the passing of the Housing Act, 1925, which came into force on 1st
July, 1925, and which reproduces in a consolidated form the permanent law relating
to the housing of the working classes, the powers of the Council in this matter were
derived from the Housing Acts, 1890 to 1924. The financial provisions of the
Housing, etc., Act, 1923, and the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, dealing
with Exchequer contributions towards the cost of the construction of houses were
not incorporated in the Act of 1925, but have been continued as separate enactments.
These Acts were passed for the purpose of encouraging building in the immediate
future, and are thus in the nature of temporary expedients. Particulars of the
provisions of these Acts are set out in the Annual Report for 1924 (vol. III., pp. 142
and 143). Apart from administrative duties, the main divisions of the Counil's
housing work are (i.) the provision of new dwellings to meet the need for additional
accommodation, and (ii.) the improvement or reconstruction of unhealthy areas,
including the provision of dwellings for rehousing persons of the working classes
displaced.
Powers and
luties of the
Council.
Under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, the State contribution
towards the cost of the erection of houses and the period for which such contribution
is payable may be revised after 1st October, 1926, and in each second year afterwards
The Act requires, however, that before such revision is made the Minister of
Health shall consult the local authorities concerned. In this connection the Minister
of Health held meetings on 17th June and 16th July, 1926, with the local representatives,
when the question of expenditure allotted to housing and the costs of production
was discussed. The Minister indicated the possibility that any houses completed
by a certain date (being a date subsequent to 1st October, 1926) would be eligible
for Exchequer contribution on the scale then in force, but that for houses completed
after such date the State subsidy might have to be reduced. He stated that his
review of the question would cover subsidies under both the Act of 1923 and the Act
of 1924, but that grants in aid of slum clearance under section 1 (3) of the Act of
1923 would remain unchanged. At the second meeting the Minister himself was
not present and discussions took place between the principal officials of the Ministry
and the representatives of local authorities on the points previously raised by the
Minister.
Revision of
State
contribution.
As a result of its consideration of the announcement made by the Minister the
Council on 27th July, 1926, resolved that, in its opinion, the scale of Exchequer contributions
towards the cost of the provision of houses under schemes promoted by
London housing authorities under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, and the Housing
(Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, should remain unaltered for a period of two
years from 1st October, 1926, but that the question of the revision of the scale
after such period should be considered in October, 1927, by the Minister of
Health in consultation with the local authorities mainly concerned.
The resolution was duly submitted to the Minister of Health, who replied on
5th August, 1926, that it was the general policy of the Government to bring to an
end the subsidies under the Acts of 1923 and 1924 as soon as practicable, although
it was recognised that this could only be done' gradually and with sufficient notice
to enable local authorities and those engaged in the building industry to accommodate
themselves to the position, in order to avoid breaking the continuity of house production.
The statutory review under the Act of 1924 fell to be made after 1st
October 1926, and the Minister could not at that time say what reduction of subsidies,
if any, might be made by Order under that Act.
On 11th December, 1926, the Minister of Health made an Order entitled the
Housing Acts (Revision of Contributions) Order, 1926, reducing the grants in respect of
14172 m