§ 61. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health whether he has satisfied himself that the repairs to the municipal houses in Devonport, to which his attention was called by the hon. Member for Devonport, have now been completed?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)My right hon. Friend is informed by the Town Council that these repairs have been completed.
§ 62. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed in Devonport in connection with State-assisted schemes, specifying which schemes since 1st February, 1926; and how many are now being built?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend is unable to give separate statistics for Devonport, but in connection with State-assisted schemes in the county borough of Plymouth, which includes Devonport, 54 houses were completed between the 1st February last and the 1st April—46 by the corporation under the Housing Act of 1924 and eight by private enterprise under the Act of 1923. 200 houses are at present under construction in State-assisted schemes and 351 have been arranged for but not commenced, while authority has been given for an additional 250 for which arrangements have not yet been made.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs the hon. Member aware that these figures are very small, and that owing to the influx of population from Rosyth and Pembroke, the situation is very grave? Is not his Department prepared to deal with it?
§ Sir K. WOODNaturally I would like to see an improvement in the figures. For some years large numbers of houses have been erected or repaired, and a large number of houses are now in course of erection. I hope the number will be materially increased.
§ Mr. PALINGDo these figures mean that there has been no extra effort made to meet the influx of these people?
§ Sir K. WOODI have answered that the Council are making efforts in connection with housing schemes generally, but, unfortunately, there, has been a large influx of persons, and the Council, 1028 like other people, are largely dependent upon the number of skilled persons available for building houses.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAA difficult situation arises because there is a waiting list of over 3,000, and if these men from Rosyth and Pembroke are given preference, over those who are waiting, there will be a riot in the town. Therefore, no arrangements can be made for these people.
§ Sir K. WOODThere is very great difficulty. The matter depends upon the number of men available for building houses.
Viscountess ASTORIs it not a fact that, if the Government would give some assistance, the Town Council would guarantee to get the houses put up in respect of the men from Rosyth?
§ Sir K. WOODI cannot assent to that. I do not think the Town Council or anyone else can put up houses unless there be men available to build them.
§ 63. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health whether he can now say if his Department is making any special provision for housing the increased population of Devonport, owing to the influx of personnel from the closed dockyards of Rosyth and Pembroke?
§ Sir K. WOODAt the moment, my right hon. Friend has nothing to add to his reply of the 25th March to a similar question by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the hon. Member seriously consider utilising Dockyard labour for the purpose of building these houses? Is he aware that all the trades necessary for building the houses are in the Dockyards, and that it would provide employment in the town if he would seriously consider this perfectly practicable suggestion?
§ Sir K. WOODI wish the matter could be disposed of so easily. Directly the Government attempt to bring in extra labour from other sources in connection with this scheme, the hon. Member knows what difficulties confront them.