Mr Edward Strauss: since His Majesty's Government have taken the lead in refusing the Spanish Government permission to buy anti-aircraft guns for defence of open towns, surely they cannot escape responsibility?
Mr Edward Strauss: asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire as to the probable cost to the State of the provision, free of cost, of surgical appliances to all poor persons whose need thereof is certified by a qualified medical practitioner?
Mr Edward Strauss: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, unless this portion of Hackney Marshes is appropriated as suggested, it will be impossible to remedy the serious overcrowding that exists?
Mr Edward Strauss: I feel very sorry that any limitation is going to be imposed by Statute in connection with this matter. I suggested during the Committee stage and also on the Report stage of the Bill, that there should be some provision to take into account the height as well as the floor area of rooms. I was assured on those occasions that the Minister would do so in the regulations and that there was no...
Mr Edward Strauss: The hon. Member has been answering an argument which has never been made. It has never been suggested, so far as I am aware, on this side of the House or by people holding the opinions that we hold, that housing associations may not in proper circumstances fulfil a very useful function. The hon. Member is perfectly right
Mr Edward Strauss: There seems to be a little misunderstanding in regard to this matter because the Minister himself is not quite certain how far the Amendment goes. If our view is correct it is going to have the most appalling effect on housing development. Everyone will agree that housing development is best done by means of large estates, and it is clear that if the Amendment is accepted the London County...
Mr Edward Strauss: 36. asked the Minister of Transport what is the approximate total sum payable to the London County Council from the Road Fund in respect of the rebuilding of Lambeth Bridge, and how much has been paid?
Mr Edward Strauss: Will the right hon. Gentleman agree with what the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport stated in the House on 3rd June that the London County Council had not applied for money in respect of this bridge and that he was therefore not justified in using this argument to support the raid on the Road Fund?
Mr Edward Strauss: I appreciate the argument put forward by the Financial Secretary, that if there were some sort of modification of the agreement which in practice was found desirable, it would be a waste of time to have to bring the matter for approval before the House before the guarantee could be applied. That is reasonable, but under the Clause as it stands it might be possible to bring about a drastic...
Mr Edward Strauss: Why is this Bill being introduced now? The London Passenger Transport Board Act, which was passed many years ago, was originally brought forward with this very object. At any rate one of its principal objects was to enable this form of extension to take place. Travelling conditions have been very unsatisfactory ever since. Money has been cheap for the last two or three years at least. Yet we...
Mr Edward Strauss: With all respect to the hon. Member, I do not think he has really followed the purpose of the Bill and the protection that is given to the public and the building interests against any possibility of corruption or misuse of powers. The county council is seeking to end an impossible situation in regard to the regulations affecting buildings. It has been the justifiable complaint of everyone...
Mr Edward Strauss: I explained it.
Mr Edward Strauss: If I do not follow the hon. Member for St. Albans (Sir F. Fremantle) it will not be because I do not consider his speech and views extremely interesting and important, but simply because that if I did so I should be ruled out of order. I want to say a few words on the proposals generally. No one with any knowledge of the pre- sent transport facilities of London can help but welcome the...
Mr Edward Strauss: I am obliged to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I understand the position better now than I did previously. What it comes to is that at the moment the companies, particularly the London Passenger Transport Board, are unable to raise the money or at any rate it would be difficult for them to do so. There is, consequently, a gamble that in some time to come they will be in a position to...
Mr Edward Strauss: I cannot let this Clause slip through in the same way as the others. It is a Clause of very considerable importance, and although I do not intend to detain the Committee for long I feel it raises a question which should be brought before the Committee at this stage. In this Clause the Chancellor proposes to raid the Road Fund, and I think I may get some sympathetic support from all quarters...
Mr Edward Strauss: 31. asked the Minister of Transport whether, under the proposed London Passenger Transport improvement schemes, regard will be had to the claims of the South-Eastern district of London for greater tube facilities?
Mr Edward Strauss: The Minister gave to the Committee a very clear and very interesting review of the work of his Department. Quite naturally he was very enthusiastic about the success which his Department has made, and, equally naturally, he was rather silent on those aspects of the Department's work which are subject to criticism. I think that most members of the Committee and everyone who is interested in...
Mr Edward Strauss: In built-up areas it is always site value.
Mr Edward Strauss: 32. asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any information tending to indicate whether pedestrian crossing-places have contributed towards a reduction of street accidents in London?
Mr Edward Strauss: I have no doubt that the Minister, in proposing this new Clause, had the best of intentions, but I am convinced, particularly after hearing his arguments, that he has no idea whatsoever as to how it will work in practice in a large clearance scheme. I was surprised to hear the hon. Baronet the Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Sir P. Harris), who has undoubtedly had great experience in...
