There is nothing in the Housing Acts to prevent a local authority at the present time from building houses on its own responsibility, and without any approval from my Department, except in the case of schemes intended to rank for assistance from the Exchequer. Where, however, a local authority desires to raise a loan for the purpose of a housing scheme, my sanction is required, and I shall be glad to give the most favourable consideration to all applications of this kind. In the case of Metropolitan borough councils, the sanctioning authority for loans is the London County Council. I have no doubt that their policy in the matter would be the same.