24. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have put in hand town-planning schemes under the Housing and Town Planning Act of 1919; and how many local authorities have done nothing in the matter?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Neville Chamberlain)273 urban authorities and 51 rural district councils have prepared, or are preparing, town-planning schemes for the whole or parts of their districts or neighbouring districts. The number of boroughs and urban districts in which, so far as I am aware, no steps have been taken for the preparation of schemes is 825 and the number of rural districts 543. It must not he assumed, however, that all these districts include land for which town-planning schemes should be prepared.
Mr. THOMSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to take any steps to stimulate these backward authorities?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have the matter continually under attention and steps are being taken all the time.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the principal difficulty in starting these town-planning schemes is the compensation involved to landowners whose land is town planned?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINCompensation is not necessarily involved.