HC Deb 03 December 1919 vol 122 cc383-4
33. Major BARNES

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the dis- cussions which will shortly take place in the House relative to the standards of housing construction, he will place in the hands of each Member of the House a copy of the Manual prepared by the Ministry of Health for the guidance of local authorities in the preparation of housing schemes?

Sir T. WALTERS

Copies of the Manual have already been supplied to all members of the Housing Group, which comprises a large number of Members of the House, but I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Vote Office, so that other hon. Members may obtain copies if they so desire.

Major BARNES

When will the Second Reading of the Housing Bill take place?

Sir T. WALTERS

That is not a question for a mere Paymaster-General, but for the Prime Minister.

Sir M. DOCKRELL

Does that give the number of cubic feet in the standard house, and is there any alternative to the standard house in case we find we have not money enough to build the standard house?

Sir T. WALTERS

The object of the Manual is not to provide specific plans to which everyone must build, but to give a guide to the method of design, and each architect is expected to use his intelligence to adapt the particular method of design to the locality in which the houses are to be built.

Sir M. DOCKRELL

Will the standard which will be submitted to these architects for their guidance be a standard of cubic feet, and will the Department permit any alternative scheme to their standard?

Sir T. WALTERS

The standard is not one of cubic feet, but of accommodation—so many rooms of a certain size.