HC Deb 05 August 1919 vol 119 cc178-9
85. Mr. RODGER

asked if the Scottish Board of Health has fixed or recom- mended that rooms in houses erected under housing schemes be limited to the following dimensions: Area of floors, living room 180 feet, principal bedroom 150 feet, second bedroom 100 feet, height of ceiling 8 ½ feet; and, if so, will he specially reconsider the dimensions of the living room both as to area and height of ceiling, in order that the houses may better fulfil the necessary conditions of family comfort?

Mr. MUNRO

The floor areas of the apartments cited by my hon. Friend are those referred to in the Report by the Committee on Building Construction, presided over by the hon. Member for Bright-side as being desirable minima, and they have been adopted as such by the Scottish Board of Health in houses being erected under State assistance. The Board, however, have neither fixed nor recommended that the floor areas of the apartments in question should be limited to these dimensions. They have approved many plans showing greater floor areas. As regards the height of ceilings, the Board are of opinion that a height of 8 ft. 6 ins. is sufficient for one and two-storeyed houses. In tenements, however, minimum of 9 ft. is insisted upon.