HC Deb 21 February 1929 vol 225 cc1286-9
28. Mr. WELLOCK

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses completed and the number authorised but not completed by local authorities and by private enterprise under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924, respectively, in each month from June, 1928, to January, 1929, together with the average price of parlour and non-parlour houses, and the average superficial area for each of these months?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

As the answer involves a tabular statement I will, with the hon. Member's consent, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. WELLOCK

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the output of houses is increasing?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not think it is increasing at this time of year. This is generally the slack time in the building trade.

Following is the answer:

STATEMENT SHOWING PARTICULARS OF PROGRESS, ETC., MADE UNDER THE HOUSING ACTS OF 1923 AND 1924.
Month. Houses included in schemes under the Housing, etc., Act, 1923. Houses included in schemes under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924. Average price and area of houses included in contracts let by, or in direct labour schemes of Local Authorities during each month.
Local Authorities. Private Enterprise. Local Authorities. Private Enterprise. Average Prices. Average Areas.*
Completed during month. Authorised but not completed at end of month. Completed during month. Authorised but not completed at end of month. Completed during month. Authorised but not completed at end of month. Completed during month. Authorised but not completed at end of month. Non-parlour houses. Parlour houses. Non-parlour houses. Parlour houses.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
1926. £ £ sq. ft. sq. ft.
June … 623 8,541 4,309 77,850 4,414 53,220 58 2,224 356 426 767 899
July … 527 8,304 4,283 78,893 4,553 54,752 42 2,109 366 434 766 923
August … 482 8,211 4,446 77,080 4,905 53,725 70 2,311 349 417 748 926
September … 733 8,011 6,325 74,588 5,785 53,504 141 2,185 365 429 773 898
October … 792 8,236 5,382 72,185 4,475 52,264 110 2,111 369 427 770 921
November … 370 7,690 3,782 71,935 4,160 52,758 35 2,200 354 417 758 917
December … 239 7,390 3,632 74,625 3,823 52,092 58 2,628 338 429 736 905
1929.
January … 71 7,062 3,127 74,115 3,864 53,486 68 2,581 341 422 (a) (a)
* Columns 12 and 13—Excluding flats.
(a) Information not yet available.
39. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONE

asked the Minister of Health what statistics he has in his Department concerning the housing requirements of England and Wales; what is the present housing shortage; and by what date, under existing legislation, is it anticipated that the population of England and Wales will be properly housed?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Elaborate statistics dealing with housing conditions are contained in the Census Reports, but I do not think it is practicable to make any reliable estimate of total housing shortage. I do not know what the hon. Member understands by properly housed it is, I think, plain that there can be no fixed standard. I may say, however, that the present annual rate of house construction is very much in excess of normal requirements, and considerable progress is therefore being made towards overtaking arrears.

Mr. THURTLE

Do not the Government regard it as an obligation of honour to provide the people of this country with decent houses?