35. Lieut.-Colonel W. GUINNESSasked the Minister of Health whether the Ministry have refused to sanction any self-contained one-room tenements in connection with State-aided housing schemes; and whether he is aware that there is a great demand for this class of accommodation in urban areas among single persons engaged in work all day and also among old age pensioners, neither in a position to pay rent for, nor clean, larger tenements?
§ Sir T. WALTERSI am not favourably disposed, in principle, to one-roomed tenements in State-aided schemes. The primary need is obviously for larger tenements. But, in exceptional circumstances, where it is guaranteed by the promoters of a scheme that any one-room tenements proposed are to be used for the special purpose of housing aged single persons or aged couples, I am prepared to authorise the inclusion of a small proportion of such tenements in a housing scheme.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider it a crime for a single charwoman to live in a one-roomed tenement?
§ Sir T. WALTERSNo. He does not consider it a crime, but he considers it foolish to supply single-roomed tenements when there is such a demand for other tenements.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSIn view of the fact that there is a large demand for this class of accommodation in certain parts of London on the part of people who have to be out all day and have no time to keep larger tenements clean, why does the right hon. Gentleman refuse to allow these tenements to be worked in with dwellings of a larger type. Does it not moan that when they are eventually provided, single persons will have to be put in separate colonies?
§ Sir T. WALTERSMy right hon. Friend will be very pleased to consider any special scheme that may be submitted in relation to local circumstances.