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176
CHAPTER V.
HOUSING.
Powers and
duties of the
Council.
Prior to the passing of the Housing Act, 1925, which came into force on 1st
July, 1925, and which reproduced 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 are
not incorporated in the Act of 1925, but are 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 Council'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.
Revision of
State
contributions
and of
scheme of
financial
assistance by
the Council.
The contributions payable by the State towards the cost of the construction of
houses, both by local authorities and private enterprise, are subject to revision
every two years. Reductions in the amounts of the State grants in respect of
houses not completed before 1st October, 1927, were made by the Housing
Acts (Revision of Contributions) Order, 1926, and the situation was further
reviewed by the Minister of Health towards the end of 1928 after consultation
with representatives of the Council and of associations of other local authorities
in the country.
The Council, both by letter and through its representatives at the conference
with the Minister, urged the desirability of retaining the existing rates of State
grant for houses completed by 31st March, 1931, and of arranging for higher rates
of State grant for new housing accommodation in or near the central areas of London
as compared with houses on outlying cottage estates; and the representatives of
the several associations also pressed for no reduction of State grant being
made.
Subsequently on 19th December, 1928, an Order entitled the Housing Acts
(Revision of Contributions) Order, 1928, was issued by the Minister of Health and
the Scottish Board of Health limiting the period of the operation of the subsidy
provisions of the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, and further modifying the rate of State
grant under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924. The Council's request
for higher rates of grant for new dwellings in or near the central areas was not
conceded.
The Order provides that so far as respects houses in England and Wales which
have not been completed before 1st October, 1929, no State or other grant under
the Act of 1923 shall be made, and that the State grants under the Act of 1924
shall be further reduced from £7 10s. to £6 a year for each house for 40 years. The
Order also further reduces from £1 17s. 6d. to £1 10s. a year for each house for 40
years in respect of houses not completed before 1st October, 1929, the maximum
amount of the supplemental grants which may be made by the Council under the Act
of 1924 to the City Corporation and metropolitan borough councils and to private
enterprise, towards the cost of housing schemes undertaken by them.
The following table sets out (A) the original rates of subsidy payable by the
State and by the Council, (B) the rates as amended in consequence of the first revision