I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £10 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1946, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, and certain Services administered by that Office, including Grants and other Expenses in connection with Housing Grants to Local Authorities, sundry Miscellaneous Grants and Grants-in-Aid, and certain Charges connected with Hospitals.
The scope of this Supplementary Estimate is indicated on Part III of the Estimate, under sub-heads J (6) and S (2). Under sub-head J (6) the sum of £10 is required purely as a token Vote in order that we may settle a certain inconsistency which appeared in the sub-head as originally drafted. The real reason why it becomes necessary to take this token Estimate is in order to insert the word "otherwise" in the last line after the word "not" and before the word "in" because, in fact, persons who are receiving footwear at reduced prices could be held to be in receipt of home assistance in so far as this scheme was administered by the public assistance authorities.
A large number of people have been given footwear for their children at considerably reduced prices, prices which are heavily subsidised by the State, and they are to that extent receiving home assistance, but they are not regarded as continuously or for more than a momentary period in receipt of that form of help. It is in order to make it quite clear that a contribution will be required from these people—a contribution will also be made by the State—and that they come within the original intention of the sub-head that the word "otherwise" is being included.
Under sub-head S (2), a sum of £6,000 will be required to give effect to the provisions of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1946. The House will remember that the purpose of that Act was to extend the time within which houses provided by private persons and public utility societies could be built as grant-aided dwellings, and, in addition, there was, of course, a proposal to subsidise, and in fact, to defray the cost of additional accommodation which might be provided in the case of dwellings inhabited by families, at least one member of which may be suffering from tuberculosis.