§ Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Minister of Health whether he is taking any steps to ensure that the whole area of the Kent coalfield which is to be developed under a Government guarantee of two million pounds shall be developed for health and housing purposes on town-planning lines so as to avoid at the outset a repetition of the insanitary and unsightly health and housing conditions that are prevalent in older coalfields?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. A joint advisory town-planning committee of all the local authorities in and around the coalfield, together with representatives of the industrial and business interests concerned and of the mine workers, is dealing with the matter. I keep in close touch with the committee and with the local authority of the area in which development is at present taking place.