Viscountess ASTORasked the Minister of Health whether the standard commonly used for estimating overcrowding and adopted by the Registrar-General for census purposes is more than two persons per room; and whether he will consider the adoption of a new standard in the 1931 census, taking account of the number of rooms used for sleeping purposes?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Census Statistics published by the Registrar-General with reference to the prevalence of overcrowding conditions are based upon the total number of habitable rooms occupied by the families enumerated, but they are not limited to the ratio of two persons per room. The suggestion contained in the second part of the question will be considered in connection with the
Year. Imports. Exports. Wheat meal and flour. Wheat offals (bran, pollard, sharps and middlings). Wheat offals. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. 1903 … … … … 20, 601, 448 692, 707 1, 558, 624 1913 … … … … 11, 978, 153 602, 492 3, 338, 212 1926 … … … … 11, 206, 000* 3, 077, 000* 833, 000* *Estimated. Note. —The quantities of wheat offals imported are not available for years prior to 1903.
1048Wforthcoming Census; but, as at present advised, I doubt whether it presents any advantages as compared with the existing basis.