Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSON:

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses which he estimates are not reasonably fit for human habitation in both urban and rural areas?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

Statistics on the point raised by the hon. Member are not available. According to the latest annual reports of medical officers of health there were 291,788 houses in urban districts and 30,954 in rural districts found on inspection not to be in all respects reasonably fit for one reason or another. During the same year defects were remedied in 512,987 houses in urban districts and 49,530 in rural districts

Mr. THOMSON:

In view of the importance of having correct information on this question, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of getting a survey made, so that the information may be available?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

I think we can get sufficient information from the annual reports.