HC Deb 12 April 1933 vol 276 cc2567-8
23. Mr. LAWSON

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the inquiry of the medical officer of health for Stockton-on-Tees into the causes of the standardised death-rate for the Mount Pleasant area, averaging 33.55 per 1,000 of the population over the past five years, compared with a standardised death-rate over the same period of 10.5 for England and Wales; whether any cause has been established for so high a death-rate on a municipal housing estate; and whether he will make a further inquiry into the matter?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the report to which the hon. Member refers, and it is now under consideration.

Mr. LAWSON

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this report is the result of careful investigation and that the medical officer of health concludes by saying that the high death-rate is the result of small incomes due to unemploy- ment? Is his Department sending out someone to inquire into and confirm these statements?

Sir F. FREMANTLE

Is it not the case that the medical officer attributed the high death-rate to high rents of houses built under the 1925 Act?

Viscountess ASTOR

Will the Parliamentary Secretary also give us some statistics about the improved health of the children who are taken out of slum areas and put into municipal and better houses?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

In answer to the hon. and gallant Member for St. Albans (Sir F. Fremantle), it is true that being a pre-1930 scheme the rents are much higher than they would otherwise be, and therefore the tenants may have to spend more on rent and thus have less to spend on food. In reply to the Noble Lady, all the experience we have in the Department shows a remarkable increase in the health, vitality and appetite of children who are moved out of slum areas.

Mr. LAWSON

Is the hon. Member aware that the only difference between the old and the new rent in this area is 4s. per week, and that the medical officer says that the high death-rate is not due so much to high rents as to low incomes, the result of unemployment?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

That would be one factor. My right hon. Friend is considering the report.

Mr. LAWSON

Has anyone been sent out to make an investigation?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

We are considering it.