Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: In view of the broken promise of the War Damage Commission in relation to taking up compassionate cases and structual damage, will my right hon. Friend not think this matter out again?
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: The hon. Gentleman said that he knew the Co-operative movement very well. Can he tell me of any other instance in the whole of the 100 years of the Co-operative movement when this thing has happened?
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: Listening to speeches from the other side of the House, I feel that there has been a refusal to acknowledge the drastic economic position which faced this country at the end of the war. As I listened to the hon. Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Spearman), criticising the hon. Member for Gateshead (Mr. Zilliacus), who suggested that America was causing our troubles here, there ran...
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: Higher wages have been introduced since the war, with shorter hours and better conditions, and added to that has been the wide and extended range of the social services. Not one of us, if we have a spark of decency in us, would want to go back to those days before the war when we had an average of nearly two million unemployed, when we had low wages and when one-third of our people were...
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: Would my right hon. Friend consider paying the contributions of those widows who have no income other than 10s. a week?
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his regulations permit a person denied compensation for war damage, due to a too late claim, to claim Income Tax relief on the amount paid in respect of war damage repairs to his property.
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: Will my right hon. Friend then explain why, if these war damage repairs have not been accepted, ordinary repairs have been accepted in this way?
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: I am grateful for this opportunity of speaking on behalf of my constituents who have such urgent housing problems. I do not think there is an area in the country where the position is worse and where the prospects of rehousing are so tragic and so hopeless. When I say that in 1945 the population of Ilford was 143,825 and today it is 184,680, the terrific problem in the Ilford area can be...
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: My suggestion was for temporary houses. I realise that we cannot allow this sprawling to go on all over the country. That was my idea in suggesting, say, 2,000 temporary houses, because surely within 10 years we should be able to find places for those people. It is now that those people have got to be housed; they cannot wait 10 years before they are housed.
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: Would the Parliamentary Secretary be prepared to see that Ilford is given a definite date regarding some houses in the new towns, and some guarantee that they will get a certain number of houses, so that we can at least throw out some hope to our people?
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider publishing within the area of the Executive Council, the names of dentists of whom it has been proved that they have refused to give emergency treatment to a National Health Service patient; and whether in persistent cases he will disallow such dentists from participating on a contract basis under the National Health Service.
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: Is the Minister aware that these cases are still arising and that complaints from my constituents are still being received? I have received a letter today giving three cases where the dentist has refused emergency treatment. Will not he do as I ask so that it may have some salutory effect upon dentists who are not carrying out their responsibility?
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: They always did.
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: It is usual when speaking on a Bill to declare one's interest, especially when it is a monetary interest. I wish to stress my interest as the representative of a much damaged borough. Ilford received many bombs and more V.2'sthe most feared bomb—than any other area in the country. Out of 45,000 houses in Ilford, 40,000 were damaged. The purpose of this little Bill is to do justice to such...
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: It gives me great pleasure to be able to support this Bill. One thing that concerns me is the matter mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mrs. Manning) regarding the apathy shown to the sufferings of women. Last week these benches were nearly full because of the sufferings of animals. Today they are practically empty when the subject concerns the sufferings of women. Members...
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: I hope that the Minister will resist this Amendment. In Ilford we have about 25,000 people who are overcrowded and need re-housing. At the rate of re-housing in Ilford the most that can be given accommodation by the end of 1950 is about 3,000. I hope he will resist this Amendment so that the other 22,000 will have some protection.
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the decision made on 10th December in respect of the case of which the hon. Member for North Ilford has already written to him; and whether, in view of the suffering caused to the mother involved, of the likelihood that the father's conduct will qualify him for leave in January under the Special Grade, and of the...
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: Will the Home Secretary take into consideration that this young man gave 4½ years' faithful naval service in foreign waters and was wounded during the course of it, and that it was only panic at the realisation that he had wronged his fiancee which made him commit the crime for which he is now suffering punishment? Is the Home Secretary aware that the doctor is gravely disturbed at the...
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: Would not a little kindness to a first offender have a much greater effect than harsh treatment of this description? Will not the Home Secretary temper justice with mercy?
Mrs Mabel Ridealgh: I asked the Home Secretary whether he would permit the marriage within the institution. The Governor was willing to allow his house for that purpose.