§ 7. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now take steps to ensure that the minimum height of the rooms of all local authority houses of the future shall not be less than eight feet.
§ Mr. CorfieldNo, Sir.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that this a rather disappointing reply? Is he not aware that the Government of which he is a member has promised to increase the standard of living to twice what it is today? If that is so, why is it that the Government are building houses to last sixty years and reducing the standards of building, and will he tell the House how many houses are being built with rooms 7ft. 6 ins. high and how many of these he intends to build in the future?
§ Mr. CorfieldI am sure that the hon. Gentleman does not expect me to have the figures to hand? I can assure him that the difference between 7 ft. 6 ins. and 8ft. for a ceiling of a house does not represent a lowering of the standard of living. This is the standard that is adopted throughout the greater part of southern England. There are good reasons why this should be adopted as the standard, and particularly good reason why we should go for standardisation in the North.
§ Mr. WainwrightIn view of the very unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.