§ 22. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Health whether he has any information as to the extent to which overcrowding exists in London, Manchester, and Sheffield?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am afraid that on the information available, it is not possible to frame any reliable estimate of the extent to which overcrowding now exists in London, Manchester and Sheffield. There is no definite detailed information in my possession other than that given in the Census Returns of 1921. A great deal of information regarding housing conditions, including the number of persons living more than two per room and the number of rooms occupied per family and per person, is obtained in connection with the Census and I would refer my hon. Friend to the Census Volumes relating to the counties in question. Later particulars are not available but the information will be brought up to date at the next Census.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the Minister of Health aware that there are a large number of rooms in the east end of London in which six and more persons are living?
Dr. VERNON DAVIESCan the right hon. Gentleman obtain this information 1740 from the annual reports of the medical officers of health?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWhile no official statistics may be available, have not many medical officers of health stated that the position has become gradually worse in the years since 1921; is it not sufficiently bad, and cannot the right hon. Gentleman do something drastic in London?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThat is a different question from the question on the Paper, which concerns the possibility of betting information as to the extent of overcrowding.