§ 57. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health whether he will cause special inquiries and efforts to be made in respect to the condition of houses within the County Borough of West Ham, inasmuch as it is the common feature of the town council to receive reports monthly from its chief sanitary and medical advisers indicating that over 75 per cent. of the houses examined are found to be not in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation, and for the year 1923 of 11,207 houses so examined 8,380 were in such a state that notices were required to be served upon the owner or rack-renters; and will he consider whether special action is necessary?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware of the conditions in this borough. The local authority are making active use of their powers under the Public Health Acts, and I understand that they are considering whether action should be taken in particular cases under Section 28 of the Housing, Town Planning, &c., Act, 1919, as amended by Section 10 of the Housing, &c., Act, 1923. These existing powers should, I think, prove to be sufficient.