§ 19. Mr. SUMMERSBYasked the Minister of Health how many new houses or habitations are being built, especially in or near Shoreditch; and what will be the rents payable?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)The borough of Shoreditch is in the main built upon and offers few, if any, new sites for the erection of houses. I am, however, aware of proposals for the erection of 208 dwellings in Shoreditch itself or intended for the use of inhabitants of Shoreditch. Of these, 160 are being erected by the London County Council, 24 by the Borough Council and 24 by the Shoreditch Housing Association. The rents in the first two instances will range, exclusive of rates, from 6s. per week upwards. I 1292 have no information of the anticipated rents of houses provided by the association.
§ 20. Mr. SUMMERSBYasked the Minister of Health how many houses there are in Essex Street, Shoreditch, and Crondell Street, Shoreditch, respectively and how many people, including children, live in each house; and whether each family has separate washing convenience and separate facilities for cooking; and what is the approximate average rent paid per family?
§ Sir H. YOUNGI am informed that the number of houses in Essex Street is 58 and the number in Crondell Street is 74; that in Crondell Street there are also 16 flats; that the average number of occupants of a house in these streets is, in Essex Street 21, and in Crondell Street 12; that these houses, which were originally built for occupation by separate families, have not in general been so adapted as to provide, separately for each family now in occupation, the conveniences mentioned; and that the average rents per letting vary from 4 s. 6d. to 15s. per week.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISWill these houses come within the definition of being suitable for slum clearance, or are they merely cases of overcrowding?
§ Sir H. YOUNGThe information is that they were not considered suitable for inclusion in slum clearance areas, but that action in respect of individual houses is contemplated.
§ Mr. THORNEWill the Minister be able to authorise the sanitary inspectors in those areas to make a house-to-house inspection in order to say whether they think the houses are in proper condition?
§ Sir P. HARRISIs it not the fact that there is nowhere else for these people to live, and that that is the real cause of the overcrowding?
§ Mr. DICKIEDid I understand the Minister to say that the rents charged were as high as 15s., and has he no power to prevent profiteering?
§ Sir H. YOUNGWhether there is profiteering depends, of course, entirely upon the nature and size of the premises. I have said that the rents vary from 4s. 6d. to 15s. As regards the sanitary 1293 inspectors, they certainly have a right to make an inspection, when investigating the nature of the premises.
§ Sir H. YOUNGI certainly could not state that without notice. If the hon. Member will give me notice of the question, I will do my best to give him the information he requires.
§ Mr. SUMMERSBYIn view of the Minister's admission as to the extremely unsatisfactory hygienic state of these houses, may I ask whether the Ministry are not considering the possibility of using a large open space at Victoria Park, part of which is already in use and which is nearby, for decanting the people from their homes until the houses have been rebuilt?
§ Sir H. YOUNGThat is a proposal which applies to a very much wider area than Crondell Street. The whole question, I understand, has been considered and is being considered by the county council.