§ 45. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRasked the Prime Minister what facilities he proposes now to afford for slum-clearance legislation affecting Scotland?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENThe present intention is that the proposed slum-clearance legislation affecting England and Scotland should, if possible, be dealt with in the same Bill.
§ Sir K. WOODWhen will the text of the Bill be available, inasmuch as the Chancellor of the Duchy stated that the draft was ready?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI do not know that anything can be added to the statement made a few days ago.
§ Sir K. WOODSurely this is a very important matter. The House wants to see the Government's proposals. Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give us some idea when we can see them?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe Government, unlike the previous Government, realises that this is a very important matter, and I can assure the House that no unnecessary delay will be incurred.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSWhy were we told at election time that all these plans were matured?
§ 62. Major NATHANasked the Minister of Health when he anticipates that the Government's projected Bill as to slums will be passed into law; and whether meanwhile he is refusing to consider and approve housing schemes submitted by local authorities?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI regret that I cannot at present add anything to the statement made on Tuesday by the Prime Minister on the subject of the first part of this question. As regards the second part, no schemes for providing new houses are being delayed in my Department by the expectation of the new Bill; but in the case of slum-clearance schemes I have in some instances suggested that 327 in view of certain difficulties which have arisen it would he better to await the proposals which I hope shortly to submit to this House.
§ Major NATHANCan the right hon. Gentleman give any indication of the delay which will be involved in view of the hardship that will be incurred by the working population?
§ Mr. GREENWOODIt is very difficult to calculate that, but in so far as there is any delay in slum-clearance schemes, it has arisen out of the decision of the Court, which must be put right by this House.
§ Sir K. WOODIs not the present position this, that slum-clearance schemes have been stopped and housing progress decreased during the last few months?
§ Major NATHANWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the introduction of declaratory legislation to overcome, in a short space of time, the difficulties to which he has referred?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI think that it is much more preferable to deal with it in a general Bill.