§ 39. Mr. ALBERYasked the Minister of Health whether he can now report any acceleration in slum clearance schemes?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)Yes, Sir. During the 11 years since the Armistice approximately 11,000 houses have been demolished under improvement and reconstruction schemes undertaken by local authorities in England and Wales, while the 224 local authorities which have so far submitted programmes to me under the 1930 Act propose to demolish Approximately 60,000 houses in clearance and improvement areas during the next five years.
§ Mr. ALBERYDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that this question has been addressed to him before and refers to slum clearance during the Government's period of office and not since the Armistice? Does he anticipate that he can give a favourable reply during the life of the present Government?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am satisfied that for a fraction of the local authorities during the coming years to build at 12 times the rate of all the local authorities in England and Wales during the past 12 years is an acceleration.
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEHave any of these slum clearances been actually started since the Act has been passed?
§ Mr. GREENWOODA number have been started, but the House approved a Bill which did not come fully into operation until the beginning of this year.