HC Deb 28 March 1961 vol 637 cc1111-2
9. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses had a bath, hot water or inside toilet installed by private landlords and owner occupiers, respectively, with a Government improvement grant in Great Britain in the twelve months to the latest convenient date; and what proportions he estimates they are, respectively, of the 5,469,385 households without a bath at the 1951 census.

Mr. Brooke

I regret that the figures requested by the hon. Member are not available. Records of improvement grants are not kept in this detail.

Mr. Allaun

The Minister has himself said that only 18,000 private landlords' houses were treated in this way in the nine months of last year. Do not those miserable figures show that, with a few honourable exceptions, landlords will not bother to install baths even with generous Government grants? Will the Minister now consider the views of the men who really know, the Association of Public Health Inspectors, who, at their annual conference two years ago, asked that some form of compulsion should be applied?

Mr. Brooke

I hope that the hon. Member will support the Clause in the Housing Bill—which had a Second Reading yesterday—which makes the installation of improvements less financially unremunerative to landlords than it has been hitherto.

Later

Mr. Allaun

On a point of order. Before the Minister of Housing and Local Government leaves the Chamber, I wish to put a question to you, Mr. Speaker, about Question No. 9. The Minister said that the figures were not available. First, I have seen the figures and, secondly, the Minister must know the figures when he makes grants for these purposes.

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order for me. I cannot make the Minister answer, nor can I make him answer in any particular way.