HC Deb 17 April 1930 vol 237 cc3079-80
35. Miss RATHBONE

asked the Minister of Health what interpretation is placed by the Ministry upon the term working classes in administering the Housing Acts of 1890, 1909, 1923, 1923 (No. 2), 1924, 1925, and in the Bill now before the House?

Mr. GREENWOOD

The term "working classes" is generally well understood, and I am not aware of any practical difficulty in its interpretation. The term has not been defined for the general purposes of any of the Acts mentioned in the question, and I do not propose to attempt a definition which Parliament and previous Ministers of Health have refrained from giving.

Miss RATHBONE

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how he expects local authorities to know what classes of persons should be admitted to the houses subsidised by the State if the Ministry have no accepted definition, and whether he is aware that large numbers of persons are taking advantage of subsidised houses and asking leave to build a motor garage?

Mr. GREENWOOD

The local authorities have never found any practical difficulty in defining it for themselves.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Is there any reason why a working man should not have a motor car and a motor garage?

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