asked the Minister for Finance if he will state when the promise made in reply to a question on the 13th July, 1948 (Official Reports, Vol. 112, col. 37), to recoup to local authorities the increase in the cost of housing due to the increase in the rate of interest on borrowings from the Local Loans fund will be fulfilled.

Arrangements for recoupment of local authorities are still under discussion with the Department of Local Government. I expect a decision will be reached soon.

Can the Minister say when a decision will be arrived at?

I would not place much hope in a favourable decision.

Would it not be much better, then, not to have such statements made throughout the country? Respective Ministers for Local Government made statements——

The statements were quite appropriate in the times they were made. However, times are changing.