HC Deb 22 November 1926 vol 200 cc184-8

Resolution reported, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to promote the provision of housing accommodation for agricultural workers and for person s whose economic condition is substantially the same as that of such workers and the improvement of such accommodation, by authorising the giving of financial assistance rewards the reconstruction and improvement of houses and other buildings, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any exp[...] incurred by the Minister of Health under the said Act, including any contributions made by him towards any expenses incurred by a local authority in making grants under the said Act in respect of dwellings, subject always to the following conditions:

  1. (a) the application for assistance must have been received by the local authority before the first day of October, nineteen hundred and thirty-one;
  2. (b) in calculating the amount of a contribution no account shall be taken of such part, if any, of the grant in respect of the dwelling as exceeds either two-thirds of the estimated cost of the works in respect of which the grant was made, or the sum of one hundred pounds:
  3. (c) any such contributions shall be made by way of annual payments for a period of twenty years from the completion of the works in respect of which the grant was made and shall be an amount equal to one-half of the estimated average annual payments falling to be made by the local authority in respect of the 185 charges on account of loans raised by the authority for the purposes of grants, or which would have fallen to be so made if the sums expended by the local authority (In account of the grant has been raised by means of loans."

Resolution read a Second time.

Motion made, and Question proposed. "That this House cloth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution."

Mr. A. GREENWOOD

I do not rise to delain the House for more than a few moments. But I feel it necessary, on behalf of my hon. Friends and myself, again to register our protest against this unwarrantable waste of public money, and against the attempt to nationalise the worst dwellings in the countryside, and at the same time to retain them in the hands of private owners. We think that this Measure is uncalled for and that the solution of this problem is not to be found in any attempt to improve existing cottages, valuable though that may be, and we regard it as un-

fortunate that the Government, while insisting on economies in other directions and whilst preparing the ground for a reduction in the State subsidy for new houses, should at this juncture have decided to come to the aid of private landlords in the countryside by means of substantial grants of public money, in order to enable them to put their houses into habitable repair. We do not think that this policy can be defended either in this House or in the country. We made our protest as strongly as Wit mild in the Committee stage of the Money Resolution, and all that I propose to do now is to declare that it is our intention to force this issue info the Division. Lobby in order to render the most effective protest possible against this unwarranted expenditure of public money.

Question put, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution."

The House divided: Ayes, 208; Noes, 70.

Division No. 478.] AYES. [11.5 p.m.
Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. Haslam, Henry C.
Agg-Gardncr, Rt. Hon. Sir James T. Crooke, J. Smedley (Deritend) Hawke, John Anthony
Albery, Irving James Curzon, Captain Viscount Headlam, Lieut.-Colonel C. M.
Applin, Colonel R. V. K. Dalkeith, Earl of Henderson, Lieut.-Col. V. L. (Bootle)
Apsley, Lord Dalziel, Sir Davison Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P.
Astor, Viscountess Davies, Dr. Vernon Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford)
Atholl, Duchess of Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) Herbert, S. (York, N. R., Scar. & Wh'by]
Baldwin, nt. Hen. Stanley Dawson, Sir Phillip Hills, Major John Waller
Balniel, Lord Dean, Arthur Wellesley Hogg, Rt. Hon, Sir D. (St. Marylebone)
Barnett, Major Sir Richard Drewe, c. Hofbrock, Sir Arthur Richard
Beamish, Captain T. P. H. Eden, Captain Anthony Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N)
Bellairs, Commander Carlyon W. Edmondson, Major A. J. Hudson, R. S. (Cumb'l'nd, Whiteh'n)
Birchall, Major J. Dearman Elliot, Major Walter E. Hiffe, Sir Edward M.
Bird, Sir R. B. (Wolverhampton, W.) Ellis, R. G. Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H.
Bourne, Captain Robert Croft England, Colonel A. Jackson, Sir H. (Wandsworth, Cen'l)
Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vansittart Erskine, Lord (Somerset, Weston-s-M.) Jephcott, A. R.
Bowyer, Capt. G. E. W. Everard, W. Lindsay Jones, Henry Haydn (Merioneth)
Brass, Captain W. Fairfax, Captain J. G. Kennedy, A. R. (Preston)
Brassey, Sir Leonard Falle, Sir Bertram G. Kidd, J. (Linlithgow)
Bridgeman, Rt. Hon. William Clive Fermoy, Lord Kindersley, Major Guy M.
Briggs, J. Harold Fielden, E. B. King, Captain Henry Douglas
Briscoe, Richard George Ford, Sir P. J. Lister, Cunliffe-, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip
Brittain, Sir Harry Forestier-Walker, Sir L. Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th)
Broun-Lindsay, Major H. Foster, Sir Harpy S. Loder, J. de V.
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks, Newb'y) Foxcroft, Captain C. T. Looker, Herbert William
Bullock, Captain M. Fraser, Captain Ian Lord, Walter Greaves-
Burman, J. S. Frece, Sir Walter de Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Vere
Burney, Lieut.-Com. Charles D. Gadie, Lieut.-Colonel Anthony Luce, Maj.-Gen. Sir Richard Harman
Burton, Colonel H. W. Galbraith, J. F. W. MacAndrew, Major Charles Glen
Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward Ganzoni, Sir John Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.)
Campbell, E. T. Gates, Percy Macdonald, R. (Glasgow, Cathcart)
Cautley, Sir Henry S. Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John McLean, Major A.
Cayzer, Sir C. (Chester, City) Glyn, Major R. G. C. Macmillan, Captain H.
Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth.S.) Goff, Sir Park Macnaghten, Hon. Sir Malcolm
Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton Gower, Sir Robert Macquisten, F. A.
Charteris, Brigadier-General J. Grace, John MacRobert, Alexander M.
Clayton, G. C. Graham, Frederick F. (Cumb'ld., N.) Maitland, Sir Arthur D. Steel-
Cobb, Sir Cyril Greene, W. P. Crawford Makins, Brigadier-General E.
Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. Gunston, Captain D. W. Malone, Major P. B.
Cockerill, Brig.-General Sir G. K. Hacking, Captain Douglas H. Margesson, Captain D.
Conway, Sir W. Martin Hammersley, S. S. Marriott, Sir J. A. R.
Cope, Major William Hanbury, C. Meller, R. J.
Courtauld, Major J. S. Harrison, G. J. C. Meyer, Sir Frank
Cowan, D. M. (Scottish Universities) Hartington, Marquess of Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark)
Crawfurd, H. E. Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) Mitchell, W. Foot (Saffron Walden)
Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. Rye, F. G. Vaughan-Morgan, Col. K. P.
Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr) Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) Waddington, R.
Murchison, C. K. Sandeman, A. Stewart Warner, Brigadier-General W W.
Neville, R. J. Sandon, Lord Watson, Rt. Hon. W. (Carlisle)
Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) Sassoon, Sir Philip Albert Gustave D. Watts, Dr. T.
Nuttall, Ellis Savery, S. S. Wells, S. R.
O'Connor, T. J. (Bedford, Luton) Shaw, R. G. (Yorks, W.R., Sowerby) Wheler, Major Sir Granville C. H.
Owen, Major G. Shaw, Capt. Walter (Wilts, Westb'y) Wiggins, William Martin
Penny, Frederick George Sheffield, Sir Berkeley Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay)
Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) Skelton, A. N. Williams, C. P. (Denbigh, Wrexham)
Perkins, Colonel E. K. Smith, R. W.(Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George
Perring, Sir William George Smithers, Waldron Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl
Peto, Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple) Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) Wise, Sir Fredric
Power, Sir John Cecil Stanley, Hon. O. F. G. (Westm'eland) Withers, John James
Pownall, Lieut.-Colonel Sir Assheton Storry-Deans, R. Wolmer, Viscount
Price, Major C. W. M. Stott, Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Womersley, W. J.
Radford, E. A. Streatfield, Captain S. R. Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'dge & Hyde)
Raine, W. Stuart, Crichton-, Lord C. Wood, Sir Kingsley (Woolwich, W.)
Ramsden, E. Sueter, Rear-Admiral Murray Fraser Woodcock, Colonel H. C.
Rees, Sir Beddoe Sugden, sir Wilfred Wragg, Herbert
Remer, J. R. Templeton, W. P. Yerburgh, Major Robert D. T.
Rhys, Hon. C. A. U. Thom, Lt.-Col. J. G. (Dumbarton)
Rice, Sir Frederick Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Richardson, Sir P. W.(Sur'y, Ch'ts'y) Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. Mitchell- Major Hennessy and Captain Lord Stanley.
Robinson, Sir T. (Lanes., Stretford) Tinne, J. A.
Ropner, Major L. Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement
NOES.
Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) Grundy, T. W. Ponsonby, Arthur
Attlee, Clement Richard Hall, F. (York, W. R., Normanton) Potts, John S.
Baker, Walter Hardie, George D. Purcell, A. A.
Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring)
Barnes, A. Hayday, Arthur Riley, Ben
Barr, J. Hayes, John Henry Robinson, W. C. (Yorks, W.R., Elland)
Batey, Joseph Henderson, T. (Glasgow) Scrymgeour, E.
Bromley, J. Hirst, G. H. Scurr, John
Buchanan, G. Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) Shepherd, Arthur Lewis
Charleton, H. C. Kelly, W. T. Short, Alfred (Wednesbury)
Cluse, W. S. Lansbury, George Stamford, T. W.
Compton, Joseph Lawrence, Susan Stephen, Campbell
Connolly, M. Lee, F. Sullivan, J.
Davies, Evan (Ebbw Vale) Lowth, T. Thomas, Rt. Hon. James H. (Derby)
Davison, J. E. (Smethwick) Lunn, William Thurtle, Ernest
Day, Colonel Harry Maclean, Neil (Glasgow, Govan) Townend, A. E.
Duncan, C. March, S. Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda)
Dunnico, H. Maxton, James Whiteley, W.
Gardner, J. P. Montague, Frederick Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe)
Gibbins, Joseph Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow)
Gillett, George M. Naylor, T. E. Windsor, Walter
Greenwood, A. (Nelson and Colne) Oliver, George Harold Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton)
Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) Palin, John Henry
Groves, T. Paling, W. TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Mr. T. Kennedy and Mr. B. Smith.

Question put, and agreed to.

The remaining Government Orders were read, and postponed.

Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of 27th September,

proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."

Adjourned accordingly at Thirteen Minutes after Eleven o'Clock.