§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health whether he can arrange in future to obtain particulars of building plans passed by all local authorities so that the statistics published every month in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" can be complete instead of partial as at present; and whether, in addition, he can obtain statistics of building work started?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have been asked to reply. The present returns are collected from 149 of the principal towns, covering over two-fifths of the total population of Great Britain, outside London. I do not think the balance of advantage is in favour of extending the basis of collection which was settled in472W consultation with the Ministry of Health two years ago, with the object of obtaining a large and representative sample, without going to the great amount of trouble and expense that would be involved in asking for a return from every local authority concerned. Figures for the County of London are not obtainable, because, as I understand, prior submission of plans to the local authority is not required there if the provisions of the London Building Act are complied with. With regard to the last part of the question, I do not think I can ask local authorities to undertake the labour which would be involved in furnishing returns of all building work in progress, but returns are obtained by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health as to building progress in connection with State-assisted housing schemes and houses built by private enterprise without State assistance.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSalso asked the Minister of Health if he can arrange with the Minister of Labour to state in the table published monthly in the "Labour Gazette" how many of the persons in receipt of out-door relief on the selected day in each month are also in receipt of unemployment benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Acts?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have been asked to reply. The returns from which this table is compiled do not distinguish the numbers of persons receiving unemployment benefit, and I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that it would not be practicable to arrange for this to be done. The Ministry of Health publish quarterly returns for England and Wales showing how many of those in receipt of outdoor relief are persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts (whether in receipt of unemployment benefit or not) and the wives and dependent children of those persons, and I am arranging to have a summary of these returns published in the "Labour Gazette." Corresponding returns for Scotland are not available.