asked the Minister of Health the number of houses completed with and without State or municipal assistance during the six months ended 30th June; and the corresponding figures for the same period last year?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

As statistics of house building by private enterprise without assistance by way of subsidy are obtained half-yearly to the end of September and March, I am unable to furnish the hon. Member with particulars as to the total numbers of Louses completed during the six months ended 30th June. During the six months ended 31st March, 1925, 41,836 houses were completed with the aid of subsidy and 34,785 without, a total of 76,621. During the same period in the preceding year, 10,626 houses were completed with the aid of subsidy and 38,597 without, a total of 49,223.

Is the right hon. Gentleman conscious of the very slow progress in the rural areas?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

Yes. The progress is slow, but I think that it is increasing.