Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 5 August 1924.
Mr Campbell Stephen
, Glasgow Camlachie
asked the Prime Minister if he intends to provide facilities for legislation in the autumn for the reduction of rents to the pre-war rates in the case of houses built previous to the war; and if he is aware that many thousands of those houses are more than 50 years old, and that they are let at rentals much in excess of that charged in the first five years of their existence?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
No, Sir. No such legislation is in contemplation for the Autumn Session.
Viscount Wolmer
, Aldershot
Is that another Labour scheme gone west?
Mr Campbell Stephen
, Glasgow Camlachie
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware how urgent this problem is in consideration of the difficult circumstances in which so many of the working classes are situated to-day?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
The Government are well aware of the real grievances referred to in the question; but the present Government cannot command anything like a Majority in this House to carry through legislation of the kind.
Lord Eustace Percy
, Hastings
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government have never announced a policy on this subject, and does he not consider that it is somewhat cowardly—if I may use that expression—to put off the responsibility of the Government on to the other parties in this House?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
Mr William Thorne
, West Ham Plaistow
In consequence of the sneering remarks from both sides, will the right hon. Gentleman make them—[interruption.]
Mr George Buchanan
, Glasgow Gorbals
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that great hardship is being felt by a large number of working-class families in industrial areas owing to the high rents they are charged for had old houses, and does not this matter constitute a very urgent problem to be dealt with, a problem more urgent than some of the questions with which the Government have already dealt?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
The hon. Member had better put that question on the Paper.
Mr James Maxton
, Glasgow Bridgeton
Arising out of the answer to the question, does the right hon. Gentleman not know from the expressions of opinion which he has heard in this House that there is a demand that legislation along the lines indicated should be introduced?
Mr Harry Becker
, Richmond (Surrey)
Are the Government in favour of charging pre-War rents for old houses: and do they say that they are not able to do so because they have not got a Majority?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
I will offer no answer to that—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—but it is because of the enormity of the difficulties that I can offer no prospect whatever now of the Government undertaking this in the Autumn Session.
Mr Campbell Stephen
, Glasgow Camlachie
I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill.
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
It would not be in order then to raise any matter which involves legislation.
Mr George Buchanan
, Glasgow Gorbals
I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment to-morrow.
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
This is a matter that requires legislation.
Mr George Buchanan
, Glasgow Gorbals
I am concerned now with the question of present legislation, in so far as the present Act provides that, where rents are increased, there should be to a certain degree proper sanitary conditions to justify the increase of rent which is charged?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
If I can find that anything of that kind can be done without legislation, I will certainly consider the question.
Mr Campbell Stephen
, Glasgow Camlachie
Should I be in order, on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill, in drawing the attention of the Government to the number of houses in an unsanitary condition and asking various questions about the rents of those houses?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
I cannot discuss that at Question Time, but I will certainly consider it.
The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.
The Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
