§ 33. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Health whether he can give the reasons why instructions were given to the Cuckfield Rural District Council to reduce the height of rooms on their buildings from eight feet downwards?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARENo instructions have been issued, but the information my right hon. Friend has indicates that the building of smaller houses in the rural district is being impeded by a local bylaw, which is very rare in comparable areas, and he has for some months been pressing the council to modify or repeal it.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it the considered view of the Ministry of Health that rooms in rural areas should not exceed eight feet in height?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARENo, Sir. No general standard of that kind is laid down. Each case must be judged on its merits. This is a special case.
§ Mr. HICKSCan the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what financial economy the Ministry propose to effect as a consequence of reducing the size of the rooms?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIt is not a question of reducing the size of rooms. It is a special case, in a special locality.
§ Mr. HICKSAs it is not a question of the size and height of the rooms, it is a question of the size of the house?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIt is a question as to whether a rural district should have a by-law which no other rural district has.