Housing Colliers' Cottages, Glamorgan 52. Mr. MARDY JONES asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Powell Duffryn Coal Company in commencing housing developments on a large scale near Llantrisant, Glamorgan, in close proximity to their new colliery; whether he is aware that this colliery company is receiving Government grants for housing; and whether, in view of the recommendations of the South Wales Regional Survey Committee, that a dormitory town should be provided off the coal measures near Llantrisant, he will take steps to insist that this colliery company shall comply with the standards of housing development for this area recommended by the said committee? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I am aware that the Powell Duffryn Company are erecting or proposing to erect a number of houses on three or four sites in the neighbourhoods of Llantrisant and Pengarn; I understand that they have not received any Government grant, but that they have obtained a guarantee under the Trades Facilities Act in respect of a loan to be raised for housing purposes. The plans which have so far been referred to and approved by my Department have been found to be satisfactory, and will not, I believe, interfere with the carrying out of the recommendations of the South Wales Regional Survey Committee. Mr. MARDY JONES Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these are very large pits, that there is a population of 10,000 in the neighbourhood and that houses are now being put down within 200 yards of the pit shaft, though there are plenty of suitable sites a little further away, and does he approve of this policy repeating the worst developments of the last 50 years? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I do not think that is the question put to me. The question is whether it would interfere with the South Wales Regional Survey's recommendation. Mr. MARDY JONES It does. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN My information is that it does not. Mr. WALLHEAD Does the Minister approve of that method of building cottages so near the pit shaft? That is the method which is causing so much trouble in South Wales now. Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I have no power to interfere with this company building houses where they like. Mr. MARDY JONES In consequence of the right hon. Gentleman's unsatisfactory answer, I shall call attention to the question on the Motion for the Adjournment at the first opportunity. Slum Clearances 53. Captain W. BENN asked the Minister of Health on what grounds he bases his estimate of £230,000 as the money required to assist local authorities in slum clearance in any one year; and whether, if local authorities demand a larger sum, the necessary Estimates will be introduced? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN The estimate of £230,000 referred to in the memorandum explaining the financial provisions of the Housing Bill was the best estimate that could be made of half the annual deficit on schemes to be approved under Clause 1 (3) of the Bill which local authorities might be expected to carry out in the near future. If local authorities submit schemes which would involve in the aggregate a larger contribution from the Exchequer, the matter will be further reviewed on the annual Estimates. Mr. MACPHERSON Will the proper proportion of this sum be granted to local authorities in Scotland? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Yes. Captain BENN Does "further review" mean that the Minister will introduce the necessary Estimates? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN No, it means exactly what it says. Building Bye-Laws 54. Mr. MARDY JONES asked the Minister of Health how many of the local authorities in South Wales and Monmouthshire have complied with the request made by his Department last year to amend their building bye-laws; and whether, in view of the urgency for providing new houses, he will take further action to speed up the local authorities that have not so amended their building bye-laws? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Of 104 local authorities with bye-laws, 14 have bye-laws of recent date. Of the remaining 90, 35 have replied to the Circular and I am keeping in touch with them. I am also communicating with those local authorities who have not yet replied. I may at the same time draw the hon. Member's attention to Clauses 12 and 13 of the Housing Bill. Town Planning, Porthcawl 55. Mr. MARDY JONES asked the Minister of Health if he will exercise his powers under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Acts to urge the Porthcawl Urban Council to take immediate steps to safeguard its future developments by the preparation of a town planning scheme, in view of the urgent need for such a scheme for Porthcawl and district as one of the chief seaside resorts easily accessible to all parts of the South Wales coalfields, and in view of the strong recommendations of this proposal by the South Wales Regional Survey Committee? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I am informed that the council have now decided to prepare a town planning scheme for this district. Somers Town Area 56. Mr. HOPKINS asked the Minister of Health whether he has refused to see a deputation from the St. Pancras Borough Council relative to the improvement of the Somers Town area; and why he has refused any help towards improvements in this overcrowded district? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN After consultation with the London County Council and the St. Pancras Borough Council it appeared that the area referred to was not of the same urgency as others which the London County Council propose to submit for approval in the near future and for which Exchequer Grant of £50,000 per annum has been earmarked. In these circumstances it was decided that the scheme could not at present properly form part of the: London programme of improvement schemes for which Exchequer assistance is available. Building Materials (Prices) 60. Mr. BARKER asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Abercarn urban district council attribute the great shortage of houses to the high cost of building material arising from the monopoly of the combines of building material; and will he expedite the consideration of this question by the Committee so that steps can be taken to deal with this evil? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; with regard to the second part, the Committee appointed to survey the prices of building materials is already at Work. Flat-Rate Grant 61. Mr. BARKER asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Abertillery Urban District Council view with grave apprehension the Government proposals for assisting housing schemes; that assistance should extend to the full time of the loan period; and that a flat-rate grant of £6 per house is quite inadequate to meet the case of necessitous areas already heavily burdened with debt; and will he give special consideration to the needs of these areas? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I have received a communication on the lines stated by the hon. Member. The objections to differentiation in the subsidy have already been pointed out in the Debate on the Second Reading of the Housing Bill. Mr. BARKER Are we to understand that there is to be no discrimination whatever between the necessitous areas with large debts and other areas that have had no unemployment and have, therefore, incurred no debts? Mr. SPEAKER That is a question to be debated on the Bill. Vacant Houses 66. Mr. SEXTON asked the Minister of Health the number of vacant houses for sale in the cities and towns in England, Scotland and Wales, and which the owners refuse to let at a weekly, monthly, or quarterly tenancy? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Statistics on this point are not available, and I am afraid they could not readily be obtained. 71. Mr. PARKINSON asked the Minister of Health if he has information as to the number of empty houses in Great Britain; if so, what is the number; and whether, in view of the present acute housing shortage, he will introduce legislation to compel the owners of such houses to convert them into working-class dwellings? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Statistics are not available showing the number of empty houses in Great Britain. As regards the last part of the question, the Bill before the House contains provisions enabling local authorities to facilitate the conversion of houses into separate flats. Swansea 69. Mr. DAVID WILLIAMS asked the Minister of Health what was the estimated need for houses shown by the regional survey in Swansea; how many houses had the local authority proposed to build; how many were approved by the Ministry; and how many houses have been completed? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN The need for houses was estimated by the local authority in 1919 at 6,378; the council adopted a general scheme for building 4,475 houses, which was provisionally approved by the Ministry of Health. The number of houses built with financial assistance was 752, and a further 236 houses have been sanctioned. These figures do not include houses erected without financial assistance. 70. Mr. WILLIAMS further asked the Minister of Health if approval has been given to the Swansea Town Council to proceed with a scheme for 50 houses at Mayhill; if a condition of the approval was the granting of the contract to Messrs. Allan Richards and Company; and if any other tenders were called for? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No such condition as is referred to in the second part was attached to my approval. I understand that the firm in question, who are already engaged on a contract for the erection of houses on the site, approached the council with a price for a further instalment, and as the price is satisfactory it has been decided to proceed without calling for further tenders. Black Country 72. Mr. PARKINSON asked the Minister of Health whether, since the housing shortage, as indicated by the regional survey of 1920, in the Black Country was 26,420 and approved schemes provided for 19,149 houses, he will say how many houses have been completed since that date; and what estimate can be given of the present shortage of houses in this district? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Sanction has been given to the local authorities included in the area in question to erect 5,636 houses under the State-aided scheme and 5,341 houses had been completed on the 1st instant. In addition, 386 houses have been erected with the aid of the private builders' grant. Statistics are not available showing the number erected by private enterprise without State assistance. I have no estimate of the present shortage of houses, but local authorities have been requested to furnish evidence of the demand for houses in connection with any proposals they may put forward under the new Bill. Liverpool 73. Mr. PARKINSON asked the Minister of Health if the regional survey of Lancaster revealed an estimated need of 14,000 houses in the City of Liverpool; and how many of these were to replace unfit and insanitary houses? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Of the total number of houses, 6,000 were estimated as required to replace houses unfit for human habitation, and 1,500 as necessary to replace other houses which fall below a reasonable standard. South Wales And Monmouth Coal Area 74. Mr. BARKER asked the Minister of Health what was the estimated need for houses indicated by the regional survey of 1920 in the district of the South Wales and Monmouthshire coalfield; how many Louses were provided for in the scheme of the local authority; how many were approved by the Ministry; and how many have been erected? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN According to the survey made by local authorities in the area in question at the end of 1919 the estimated need during the following three years to meet overcrowding and to replace unfit houses was 56,900. The scheme of the local authorities was for a total of 55,750 houses. 10,111 houses have been authorised under the Assisted Scheme and 8,486 had been completed on the 1st instant. In addition, 1,627 houses have been erected with the aid of the Private Builders' Grant. London (Overcrowding) 75. Mr. TREVELYAN asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the patients under the care of the London tuberculosis dispensaries live in dwellings with one or two rooms only; and whether he intends to make any special provision for dealing with the overcrowding in the Metropolitan area? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I have no information as to the first part of the question. As to the second part, overcrowding in the Metropolitan area will be automatically reduced as the erection of new houses proceeds. Dr. CHAPPLE Is any provision made for visitation of these tuberculous cases in the houses where they live, in order to lessen the danger of contagion and to give instruction for prevention? Mr. SPEAKER That question does not arise. Direct Labour, Tonbridge 76. Mr. WARNE asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Tonbridge Urban District Council has been able by direct labour to save £300 per house over private contract prices; and, if so, whether he will strongly recommend other local authorities to adopt this method? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I am not sure what are the precise schemes to which the hon. Member is referring and whether, in fact, they are properly comparable. I may say, however, that the general experience does not indicate that there is the advantage in direct labour over contract which the hon. Member suggests, and I do not consider that I should be warranted in following the course he proposes. Industrial And Public Utility Schemes 77. Mr. WARNE asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been built by industrial firms for their employés and by public utility societies, respectively, since the passing of the Housing and Town Planning, Etc., Act of 1919; and what proportion of these were built with the aid of the Government subsidy? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Information in regard to the first part of the question is not available. 4,519 houses had been completed on the 1st instant by 82 public utility societies and housing trusts under the State-aided scheme. Of these societies and trusts, some 35, which provided altogether 2,889 houses, were connected with industrial firms. Hull 78. Mr. LEACH asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed since the Armistice, or are now in course of completion, in Hull; and how this number compares with the needs of the city as estimated by the local authority under the 1919 Act? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN The number of houses which have been built with financial assistance in Hull is 614, and approval to the erection of a further 124 has been given. These figures do not include houses erected without financial assistance. The estimate of need made by the local authority in 1919 was 7,778, but I must not be taken as accepting such a figure as representing the existing effective demand. Mr. LEACH What is the reason for this discrepancy between the need in Hill and the number of houses actually sanctioned? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I suppose the schemes put forward by the local authorities in Hull did not correspond with what they themselves estimated to be the need. I must not be taken as accepting their figure of the needs which exist to-day. Scarborough 79. Mr. LEACH asked the Minister of Health how many of the 150 houses in Scarborough reported by the Yorkshire regional survey as being totally unfit are still inhabited? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I have no information as to the particular houses referred to by the hon. Member, but I am aware that the Scarborough Town Council are taking steps to deal with this problem. One scheme for improvement and re-housing in connection with an area containing 21 houses was approved by me in January last, and a second scheme dealing with 53 houses has been submitted by the council and will form the subject of a local enquiry at an early date. Municipal And Private Enterprise 80. Mr. LEACH asked the Minister of Health if he can now give statistics of working-class houses which have been built since the War by private builders without State assistance? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN The statistics desired by the hon. Member are not available. Mr. J. DAVISON How many centuries will elapse before we get the statistics? 81. Mr. C. BUXTON asked the Minister of Health what is the number of working-class houses built by municipalities and private builders, respectively, in Great Britain during the years 1904 to 1914? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN During the period 1904–1914 loans were sanctioned under the Housing Acts to local authorities in England and Wales for the erection of 8,381 houses. Information as to the number built by private enterprise is not available, but according to the Inland Revenue Returns as to Inhabited House Duty, there was a net increase of 628,589 houses of under £20 annual value in England and Wales during this period. Mr. LEACH Is it the fact that information as to the number of houses built by private enterprise is not available because there were none? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Obviously not, because, as I have pointed out in the answer, loans were sanctioned for municipalities to build themselves over 8,000 houses, whereas the total increase in the number of houses was 628,000, so that the difference must represent what was built by private enterprise. 82. Mr. BUXTON further asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the statement of the chairman of the London County Council Housing Committee, on 28th November, 1922, that the class of house required by the working classes would not be built by private enterprise, he will take steps to grant additional facilities for municipal building in London? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I understand that the statement of the chairman of the London County Council Housing Committee had reference to building by private enterprise without assistance; the Bill now before the House provides for such assistance being given. Local Authorities (Proposals) 84. Captain BENN asked the Minister of Health if he will name the 38 local authorities who have submitted housing proposals under the new Bill for the approval of his Department? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I will send the hon. and gallant Member a list of these local authorities. Well Hall Estate, Eltham 100. Mr. SNELL asked the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that, on the Well Hall estate, Eltham, there is a number of vacant houses; and that notices have been posted offering these houses for sale; and whether, in view of the large number of families needing, but unable to buy, houses, he will instruct his Department not to keep the houses empty until they can be sold, but to offer them to suitable tenants? Sir J. BAIRD At the present time only three houses are vacant, one of which has been sold and the other two have been let. It is the settled policy of the Government to sell all the houses on their housing estates as and when opportunity offers. I cannot therefore issue an instruction such as is suggested in the last part of the hon. Member's question. If houses which fall vacant cannot be sold within a reasonable time they will be let. Pathhead, Ford, Midlothian 102. Mr. WESTWOOD asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that there is a serious housing shortage at Pathhead, Ford, Midlothian; that many houses there are closed for a period of the year and only occupied in summer time for holiday purposes; and if he is prepared to take any action to allow of these houses being let to tenants prepared to occupy them all the year? Captain ELLIOT (Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health, Scotland) I am aware that there is a shortage of houses at Pathhead, and I understand that there are at present in that district 15 houses not in continuous occupancy. The only method which the local authority could adopt to make these houses available for tenants desiring to occupy them continuously is to acquire them by purchase. I am in communication with the local authority as to the most suitable steps to be taken to relieve the shortage. British Debt (United States) 45. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY asked the Prime Minister whether the War Debt settlement contract between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America has been finally ratified; and whether it will come before the House of Commons in any way? Mr. BALDWIN The terms of the settlement of the British Debt to the United States agreed with the American World War Foreign Debt Commission have been approved by Congress and widely published. Discussions now proceeding relate only to technical points in connection with the actual Bonds to be given to the United States, and it is hoped that an early settlement of these points will be arrived at. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to the answers given on the 26th February to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington, and on the 1st March to the hon. Member for Colne Valley. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY May we take it that the House of Commons is going to be asked to ratify it, and will not be put in an inferior position? Mr. BALDWIN The question of ratification does not arise, as I have explained in previous replies. The matter can be discussed on the Finance Bill, where there is a Clause that touches on the subject. Sir W. DAVISON How did it come about that the repayment of this loan was to be in dollars, and not in sterling, which is very much to our disadvantage? Mr. BALDWIN That would be a lengthy matter to go into now. I could easily explain it on the Finance Bill. Pre-War Pensioners 46. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE asked the Prime Minister whether the Sub-Committee of the Cabinet which is to consider the legislation to be introduced with the object of improving the scale of pensions to pre-War pensioners has been set up and, if so, when it is expected to report; and will he make it an instruction to the Sub-Committee to consider the question of administration under the Pensions (Increase) Act so that the limitations which have done so much to mar the usefulness of that Act may not find a place in the new legislation? Mr. BALDWIN The Committee has been set up, but I cannot say when a report may be expected. I am not aware what points of administration my hon. Friend is referring to, but generally speaking, what the Government contemplates is simply an alteration of the scales of increase. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE Will the Bill proposed to be introduced be brought in before Whitsuntide or after? Mr. BALDWIN Certainly not before. Mr. PETO Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some local authorities interpret the 1920 Pensions (Increase) Act as permissive and have granted no increase whatever under it to ex-policemen, who are consequently in a very serious position, and will he expedite this legislation so that something may be done for these people? Iraq (Treaty With King Feisal) 48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY asked the Prime Minister when Parliament will be invited to ratify the Treaty between His Majesty and the King of Iraq? Mr. BALDWIN The question of the ratification of the Treaty with King Feisal and the new Protocol modifying its conditions cannot be considered until they have been submitted to a Constituent Assembly in Iraq. Such Constituent Assembly cannot be summoned until peace with Turkey has been concluded and the boundaries of the Arab State finally determined. Under our Constitution, ratification is a matter for the Crown and not for Parliament, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has given an undertaking that the King will not be advised to ratify this Treaty and Protocol until an opportunity has been afforded for the matter to be debated in Parliament. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY As the Peace Treaties were brought before Parliament, why in this case are we to be in an inferior position to an uncreated Legislative Assembly in Iraq? Mr. BALDWIN There must be some dissimilarity between the two. Captain BENN Why is it that a Constituent Assembly has been promised for the last two years in Iraq and now it is announced that it cannot meet until after the Peace Treaty with Turkey? Captain BERKELEY Why should the Constituent Assembly of Iraq have a prior right to consider this Treaty before the House of Commons? Cakes (Boric Acid) 57. Mr. HARDIE asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the only prosecution for the presence of boric acid in cakes was due to the use of eggs that were at first frozen and then defrozen and subjected to boric treatment; and whether he can state if there are any further prosecutions pending? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN So far as I am aware there has only been one recent prosecution on account of the presence of boric acid in cakes, but I have no information to show that the eggs used in that case had been frozen before being treated with boric acid. I have no official information as to any further prosecutions. Mr. HARDIE Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough, as the case referred to was in Birmingham, to take steps to find out what was the evidence, and whether it was frozen and defrozen eggs that constituted the basis of the case? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I have communicated and I have not been able to get any information to that effect. Mr. HARDIE If the Court took evidence, surely it was bound to take evidence as to the source of supply of the eggs? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I will make further inquiries. Rates 62. Mr. T. THOMSON asked the Minister of Health what is the average rate in the £ for all local purposes levied in England and Wales in urban and in rural areas? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN It is estimated that the average rate in the £ for all local purposes levied in urban areas in England and Wales during the past financial year (1922–23) was 14s. 6d. The corresponding rate in rural areas is estimated to have been approximately 12s. 4d. Mr. THOMSON In so far as the average rate in rural areas is much less than in urban areas, what does he propose to do to compensate the urban areas for the grant the Government is making to industries in agricultural areas? Mr. CHAMBERLAIN I do not see that that question arises.