HC Deb 16 June 1920 vol 130 cc1246-7
33. Mr. MALONE

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Land Inquiry, Vol. II., Urban, published in 1914; whether he has studied the mass of evidence contained in that publication concerning the conditions of existing housing accommodation, especially the evidence between pages 7-40 and 181-204; whether he is aware that the conclusions of the Report were, briefly, that the majority of urban workmen have to live in houses which are over-crowded to the acre, built in long uninteresting rows, without sufficient space round them, and frequently without the free access of light and pure air; that between 5 and 10 per cent. of workmen live in slums, that is, dwellings unfit for human habitation, and that 10 per cent. of the whole population are living in over-crowded conditions; whether the conditions stated in this Report are much worse now than they were in 1914 owing to the increasing population and the cessation of building during the War; and whether, in view of the fact that the Ministry of Health had only produced 1,144 houses up to 1st May, 1920, he will take more drastic action to improve the conditions of the people?

Dr. ADDISON

I am well aware of the matters to which the hon. Member refers, and I have received much additional information through the recent housing survey. Special measures are being taken to press forward with the provision of new houses, for which the arrangements are complete for large numbers to be supplied if sufficient money and labour is forthcoming.