§ 28. Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Health what steps are taken by local authorities to call the attention of owners of houses needing reconditioning to the state of their property; and whether he will consider the desirability of increased publicity in respect of the ownership of houses where the provision of sanitary and habitable accommodation is not adequate?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is the duty of a local authority under the Housing and Public Health Acts to make provision for a thorough inspection to be carried out from time to time according to the circumstances of the dwellings of 2054 their district and to take appropriate action. In the last year for which statistics are available, 1,164,875 houses were inspected under these provisions, and works of reconditioning or repair were carried out during the year for nearly 600,000 houses, and in the case of more than half of this number the necessary works were carried out as a result of co-operation between local authorities and the owners, and without the need for the issue of statutory notices. In these circumstances I do not think there would be any sufficient advantage in adopting the suggestion made in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the local authorities have any power to compel owners to paint or repair property?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs it riot a fact that the tremendous numbers of statutory notices served show that the present methods of enforcing the law are not adequate, and can the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, which suggests that additional measures for securing publicity should be taken to impress upon property owners the desirability of keeping the property in good repair?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman see that some measures for increased publicity are taken, in view of the fact that the returns published by local authorities do not now give the names of the defaulting landlords?