§ 19. Mr. ALBERYasked the Minister of Health if he can now make any statement as to the proposed legislation of the Government for dealing with slum areas; and whether he will state the progress now made by the local authorities in clearing condemned property and re-housing the tenants?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make an announcement with regard to the first part of the hon. Member's question. With regard to the last part, the position at present is that 70 local authorities have since 1919 submitted 91 schemes for the improvement of unhealthy areas, and 82 schemes have been confirmed. Of the 10,463 houses and other buildings included in confirmed schemes, 3,023 had been acquired and 1,246 demolished on the 1st October last. With regard to re-housing in connection with these schemes tenders had been approved or loans sanctioned for 3,136 houses, of which 1,450 had been completed.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEIs there any likelihood of our having any pronouncement on the subject of the first part of the question, so that we can take the matter up in earnest next Session?
§ Sir K. WOODMy hon. and gallant Friend will observe that my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement, and I think he will agree 185 that we are pursuing house construction and slum clearance on right lines by getting new houses built first.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs it the intention of the Minister of Health to bring forward new legislation, or has he dropped that intention?
§ Sir K. WOODThe hon. and gallant Gentleman evidently did not hear the reply to the first part of the question.