Housing In the House of Commons on Monday there was
an intensely interesting debate on housing. Mr. Greenwood announced that the Government would ignore the deci- sion of the Unionist Government to end the Wheatley Subsidy, but would allow the Chamberlain subsidy to run its course. The debate then turned upon the question whether the cost of building rises or falls as the result Of a subsidy. Mr. Chamberlain held strongly that a subsidy invariably increases the price, and is, therefore, to be avoided whenever possible. He has many facts on his side. Mr. E. D. Simon took the line that even if subsidies increase the price, they do at least produce the houses, and that the most important point at present is speed in building. The Wheatley subsidy, he said, had enormously increased building production. He, therefore, advocated subsidies within reason. Mr. Wheatley himself roundly denounced the Government icor cowardice. He consoled himself with the reflection 'that, at all events, when they failed no one would be able to say that Socialism had failed.
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