§ Mr. E. SIMONasked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that the standard of overcrowding generally adopted by medical officers of health is two persons per room, and that it is possible, without exceeding this standard, to have serious overcrowding and such conditions that elementary decency is impossible, he will instruct medical officers of health to adopt a new standard more in accordance with present-day opinion?
2018W
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am advised that the Census figures as to families living under conditions of more than two persons per room have never been regarded by medical officers of health as other than a rough index of the prevalence and distribution of overcrowding conditions and that there is general agreement among health officers that other considerations must be taken into account. As at present advised I do not think that any specific instruction to medical officers en this point is necessary or would serve any useful purpose.