§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the shortage in institutional accommodation 1535W for imbeciles and mental defectives; and whether he proposes to do anything to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Mr. E. BrownYes, Sir. I am well aware of the shortage of accommodation for these cases, but I regret that the scarcity of materials and labour makes it impracticable to provide the requisite new accommodation at the present time.
— House completed England. Wales. Scotland. 1st August, 1939–31st March, 1940 … … 84,387 3,757 11,558 Year ended 31st March, 1941 … … 39,461 2,868 12,240 Year ended 31st March, 1942 … … 9,330 495 4,562 Year ended 31st March 1943 … … not available 3,273 March—June, 1943 … … not available 657 133,178 7,120 32,290 172,588 Note:
The figures relate to the number of houses completed or first entered on the rate books during the year. Many of these houses were in various stages of construction at the beginning of the war. The figures relating to Scotland were obtained from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.