THE HOUSING QUESTION 
63 
implications involved in the undertaking of a Housing 
Scheme. The Treasury’s refusal to allow drainage and 
water supply of the houses (except actually within 
the limits of the estate) to rank for subsidy was some 
thing uncommonly like breach of faith. Nothing had 
been said about this limitation when the Bill was going 
through. Difficulties were put in the way of Local 
Authorities in their endeavour to obtain capital for 
their schemes from the Local Loans Fund (which, 
although a Government issue, is allowed to be adminis 
tered by a group of financiers who are very imperfectly 
under Government control). And many more diffi 
culties they had, causing irritation and suspicion in 
the minds of local men who in the past had often found 
their irritation well justified, and their suspicions 
well grounded (as they have again found in the present 
outcome of the Government Housing Scheme). But, 
allowing for this, many Councils deliberately defied the 
Law. They knew houses were badly wanted and they 
refused to build them. 
What is the history of the employment by the 
Minister of Health of the powers given to him by 
Parliament to act in default of Local Authorities ? 
Here is a reply on 18th February, 1920, in the House 
of Commons :— 
Mr. Leonard Lyle asked the Minister of Health whether he 
now possesses adequate powers to compel lethargic authorities 
to build houses where these are urgently needed ; and, if so 
whether he proposes to exercise these powers ?