§ 37. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, the total number of one-apartment houses built in Scotland and the total number of two-apartment houses built since 1919?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs at 30th June last no one-apartment houses, and 7,222 two-apartment houses, were built in Scotland since 1919 under State-assisted housing schemes. No reliable information is available as to houses of one and two apartments built without State assistance during that period, but such information as I possess indicates that the number is very small.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODHow is it we have two-apartment houses built in Scotland and none in England?
§ Sir J. GILMOURFor the very good reason that there is a clamant demand for that type of house. I would only add that when one speaks a two-roomed house of the present day it includes other things, such as scullery and bathroom.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not because of the poverty of Scotland and that people are not able to pay the rent for three-apartment houses?
§ Mr. SULLIVANIs it not the case that there is a clamant demand for one-apartment houses and we give way to that When are we going to raise the standard of housing?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have repeatedly stated that it is not the policy of the Board of Health to authorise the building of single-apartment houses. Two-apartment houses, with the addition of sanitary conveniences, are considered proper and suitable.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that every Housing Commission that has been set up by this House to inquire into housing conditions in Scotland, Tory, Liberal and Labour, has unanimously reported against two-apartment houses, and will he take steps to carry out their findings?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter for debate.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that two apartments are sufficient for him and his wife.?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat can be debated on the Estimates.
§ 39. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Health the total number of one-apartment and the total number of two-apartment houses built since 1919 under any form of State grant?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)There is no record of any one-roomed tenements having been approved by my Department since 1919 in connection with State-aided schemes. There have been some few instances where local authorities have provided two-roomed tenements for childless couples and single persons. No statistics are available, but the hon. Member may take it that the number of such tenements is negligible.
§ Mr. MAXTONDoes the hon. Gentleman take steps to see that these two-apartment houses let to childless couples are kept solely for childless couples?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is a matter for the local authorities.
§ Mr. BUCHANANAm I to understand that the Ministry of Health has very few, if any, applications from local authorities for two-apartment houses?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is another matter altogether.