HC Deb 14 July 1924 vol 176 cc34-5
80 and 81. Mr. E. BROWN

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether the populations of philanthropic institutions, such as national children's homes, situated in agricultural parishes will be reckoned as parishioners for the purposes of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill;

(2) whether the populations of boarding-schools situated in agricultural parishes will be reckoned as parishioners for the purposes of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)

I will, with the permission of the hon. Member, answer these questions together. I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which were given on the 7th and the 9th instant to his questions on the subject of the proposed additional subsidy for houses built in agricultural parishes.

Mr. BROWN

Has the Minister yet completed the inquiries referred to in the answer, as to the number of villages to be affected by the position of these and similar institutions in the parishes concerned, with regard to the Housing Bill?

Mr. GREENWOOD

I think the hon. Member might wait until the question arises.

Mr. BROWN

How are Members of this House to debate the question on Wednesday unless they have this information before the Debate begins?

Colonel ASHLEY

Cannot the hon. Gentleman expedite these returns, so that we may have them on Wednesday? It is very difficult to debate such a matter without them.

Mr. GREENWOOD

So far as I am aware, the Minister of Health gave no undertaking that he would present to the House a full return of the kind originally suggested by the hon. Member.

Mr. BROWN

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I made no such statement? The statement I referred to was that in which the Minister said, in his reply to me, that he was making an inquiry. Since then I have asked for information and have been unable to get it.

Colonel ASHLEY

Will the hon. Gentleman give this information to the House before Wednesday?

Mr. GREENWOOD

Such information as can be given relating to many thousands of agricultural parishes will be given by my right hon. Friend in his statement.

Mr. BROWN

Yes, in his opening statement.

82. Sir LAMING WORTHINGTON - EVANS

asked the Minister of Health in how many parishes in the county of Essex the subsidy of £12 10s. per house will be payable under the provisions of the new Housing Bill?

Mr. GREENWOOD

A statement giving this information will be prepared, and sent to the right hon. Gentleman.

83. Duchess of ATHOLL

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the administrative counties of Perth and Kinross will be eligible to obtain the subsidy of £12 10s. under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill?

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Adamson)

I am unable to give the names of the villages, but the whole of the 76 parishes, exclusive of burghs, in the two counties, excepting the parishes of Comrie, Glendevon, Arngask, Redgorton, Scone, Tibbermore, Aberfoyle, Callander and Killin, will be eligible for the increased subsidy under the Bill.

Mr. BROWN

Is it not a fact that the proportion of villages left out in Scotland is less than in England; and is not that an injustice to England?