asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he has received any Report on housing conditions at Edlington; whether he is aware that, of 924 houses inspected, 419 had lodgers or more than one family, and 217 had two families in each house: what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter;

(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the medical officer of health to the West Riding Public Health and Housing Committee, in which it is stated that out of a sanitary survey of 680 houses in Denaby Main there were 225 houses with lodgers of two or more families, 93 with two families, one with four families, and 128 overcrowded: and whether he proposes to take any action to remedy this state of affairs?

I am aware of the conditions in this district which is one where colliery undertakings have been rapidly developed. This is one of the districts in which the combination of colliery owners, to which I referred in my speech in Committee on the 13th June, is proposing to build houses, and legislation is at present before the House to facilitate the borrowing of money for these proposals. In addition I have informed the Conisborough Urban District Council that I am prepared to authorise the erection of a number of houses under the Assisted Scheme.

Has the Ministry of Health considered the excessive infantile mortality in this area through overcrowding?

I know that the conditions are by no means good, and I am endeavouring to remedy them.