§ 3. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Health how many unoccupied houses and flats there are in the boroughs of Hampstead, Hornsey and Finchley, respectively.
§ Captain CrowderOn a point of Order. May I ask, Mr Speaker, whether it is not rather a waste of the time available for Questions down for oral answer to put down a Question for information which can be asked for and obtained from the town halls of the constituencies referred to or from hon. Members representing them?
§ Mr. Speaker"That is not a point of Order. The hon. Member is responsible for how he asks his Question.
§ Mr. ChallenFurther to that point of Order. May I emphasise the point made by my hon. and gallant Friend that this information can be obtained from the hon. Member of a constituency? Anybody can obtain it from his Member.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat fact does not deprive any hon. Member of the right to ask a Question of this kind.
§ Mr. BevanThe number of unoccupied houses and flats other than those held on requisition is: Hampstead 440; Hornsey 320; Finchley 48. Very many of these properties are heavily war damaged and still awaiting repair and there is both in Hampstead and Hornsey a great deal of dry rot damage also.
§ 18. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Health the number of houses and flats which are at present uninhabitable by reason of war damage in the following London boroughs St. Marylebone, Paddington, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster, respectively.
§ Mr. BevanThe number of houses and flats in these boroughs which are still uninhabitable by reason of war damage are: St. Marylebone, 541; Paddington, 295; Kensington, 806; Chelsea, 268; Westminster, 359.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Sparks
§ Mr. SparksQuestion No. 19.
§ Mr. Piratin rose—
§ Mr. PiratinMr. Speaker, 1 thought the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Sparks) was going to ask a supplementary question to Question No. 18.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have called the next Question, and the hon. Member cannot now ask a supplementary on the previous Question.