§ 56. Lieut.-Commander TUFNELLasked the Minister of Health what special encouragement is given by his Department at the present time to the erection in various parts of the country of an adequate supply of small and cheap cottages for housing old persons, without children, in receipt of old age pensions, to enable them to avoid being sent to public institutions?
§ Sir K. WOODIn the last memorandum on housing issued to local authorities in October last, I drew their attention to the advantage of including in housing schemes special homes for aged persons. Since 1st March, 1935, I have approved the erection of 5,252 aged persons' cottages by 224 local authorities.
§ Sir PERCY HURDIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Department's reference to this matter consisted of one line and three-quarters in the memorandum, and cannot the special attention of local authorities be drawn to it?
§ Sir K. WOODI hope that the importance of the Ministry's circulars will not be judged by the number of words in a paragraph.
§ Sir K. WOODThe hon. Member's desire for that information will give him an opportunity of putting down a question.
§ Mr. WHITELEYWill the Government grant subsidies to local authorities who are prepared to erect houses for aged workers?
§ Sir K. WOODI would prefer the hon. Gentleman to put that question down.