HC Deb 02 March 1939 vol 344 c1479W
Sir L. Smith

asked the Minister of Health how many houses were condemned to compulsory demolition under Orders confirmed by him during the year 1938; and what staff was available to assist him in checking the reports of the inspectors who held inquiries with regard to such Orders?

Mr. Elliot

In the course of 1938 my predecessor and I confirmed proposals by local authorities for the demolition as unfit for human habitation of 55,583 houses dealt with in 5,010 Orders. The staff available for dealing with the inspectors' reports numbered 44.

Sir L. Smith

asked the Minister of Health in how many cases during 1938 he refused to confirm Orders for the demolition of houses, and what proportion this number bears to the total of those which were approved for demolition?

Mr. Elliot

Three hundred and sixty-one Orders were quashed. In addition a large number of Orders were modified by the exclusion of houses. The number of houses involved was 3,720. This number is equivalent to about 7 per cent, of the houses included in confirmed Orders.