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THE  HOUSING  QUESTION

On  5th  May,  1921,  when  Dr.  Addison  was  still  in  the
Cabinet  as  "  Minister  without  Portfolio,”  he  was  asked
the  following  question  :—
Major  Prescott  asked  the  Minister  without  Portfolio  on  what
grounds  he  warned  the  public  to  be  on  their  guard  as  to  a  possible
change  of  housing  policy,  as  reported  in  the  London  Press  on  the
26th  April  ;  whether  his  disquieting  statement  has  unsettled
many  local  authorities  within  the  Metropolitan  Police  area  in
connection  with  the  financial  responsibilities  they  have  incurred
in  the  development  of  housing  schemes  ;  and  whether  or  not  the
Government  contemplate  a  change  of  housing  policy  which  will
raise  the  financial  liability  of  a  local  authority  above  the  limit
of  a  id.  rate  ?
Dr.  Addison  :  “  I  can  assure  my  Hon.  and  Gallant  Friend
that  there  was  nothing  in  the  speech  in  question,  or  in  any  reports
of  it  that  I  have  seen,  to  cause  unsettlement,  nor  have  I  heard
of  any  that  has  arisen  in  consequence.  It  was  explicitly  stated
that  the  Government  contemplated  no  change  of  policy  or  departure ­
  from  any  obligations  to  local  authorities  and  others  that
had  been  entered  into,  but  it  was  pointed  out  that  the  redemption
of  slums  in  our  towns  would  require  sustained  effort  through  a
long  series  of  years  and  that  a  vigilant  and  informed  public  opinion
would  be  necessary  if  the  work  was  to  be  persevered  with.”
Three  weeks  after  he  had  said  this  the  Government
stopped  practically  all  further  approvals.
On  the  12th  April,  1921,  the  following  question  was
asked  in  the  Commons  :—
Mr.  T.  Thomson  asked  the  Prime  Minister  whether  the  recent
change  in  the  post  of  Minister  of  Health  indicates  any  variation
m  the  Government’s  policy  with  regard  to  health  and  housing
administration  ;  and  can  local  authorities  which  have  undertaken
the  erection  of  dwelling-houses  under  the  Housing  and  Town
Planning  Act,  1919,  rely  upon  the  Government  fulfilling  in  the