INSANITARY DWELLINGS. (Hansard, 17 March 1927)

HC Deb 17 March 1927 vol 203 cc2176-7 2176

24. Mr. ROBINSON
asked the Minister of Health if his Department takes any action in compelling, or has authority to compel, local authorities to reinstate insanitary houses at the expense of the owners of such property which is a menace to the general health of the public and the tenants in particular?

2177

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN
Part I of the Housing Act, 1925, contains the provisions enabling local authorities to secure the repair, maintenance, and sanitary condition of houses at the expense of owners, and provision is also made for their enforcement by Order of the Minister of Health if, after receiving a complaint and holding a Local Inquiry, he is satisfied that there has been default on the part of a local authority.

§ Mr. T. WILLIAMS
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in certain districts where houses were condemned 1914, these houses are still occupied, and that the local authorities have done nothing to put them into repair?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN
The hon. Member will understand from the reply that the initiative in these cases does not rest with me. Complaint has to come from someone in the locality. Then it is for the Minister to act.

	Stourbridge Borough.	Old bury Urban District.	Halesowen Urban District.
I.—State Assisted Schemes (up to 1st March, 1927):—
(a) Local Authority Schemes—
(i) Houses completed	286	438	241
(ii) Houses under construction	70	112	38
(iii) Houses authorised but not started	66	132	22
(b) Private Enterprise Schemes—
(i) Houses completed	99	469	255
(ii) Houses under construction	13	75	41
(iii) Houses, certificates issued but not started.	7	64	99
II.—Private Enterprise Non Subsidy Houses:—
(a) Houses completed during four years ended 30th September, 1926.	100	185^*	182^*
(b) Houses under construction on 1st October, 1926.	6	3	6
^* As regards these two local authorities no particulars were furnished as to the number of houses erected during the six months ending 31st March, 1923.
It is not possible to state the numbers of houses which are likely to be completed by October next.