§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Select Committee on the Housing of the Working Classes Amendment Bill reported in 1906 that an undoubted insufficiency of cottages in rural areas existed, and that the insanitary and indeed deplorable condition of much of the existing cottage property must be attributed to the perfunctory administration of their powers by the local authorities, and, further, in view of the fact that since the passing of the Housing and Town Planning Act 1,600 cottages have been demolished and only 120 built by local authorities, he will, with a view to remedying this state of things, introduce a measure to carry out the recommendations of the Select Committee, namely, that a special housing and public health department to supervise the public health and housing laws in the rural areas be appointed, and that a grant should be made from the National Exchequer for rural housing purposes on the principle of the subventions granted to the necessitous schools?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Noble Lord must not assume that in replying to this question I accept the figures which he gives. The Local Government Board have already a separate Department dealing with the intimately related subjects of Housing and Town Planning, which is in close touch with the Departments dealing with sanitary administration and public health. As regards the question of a 1277 Grant, I must refer the Noble Lord to my reply to the hon. Member for Dudley of the 2nd instant.
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any steps can be taken by the Local Government Board to differentiate between the distinct problems of rural housing and urban housing respectively?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I have no doubt such steps are being taken, but I will inquire into it.