§ 18. Mr. ALBERYasked the Minister of Health with reference to the 70 authorities who have declared 205 slum-clearance areas, if he can say in how many of these slum clearance areas the clearing of ground has commenced and in how many cases ha sthe building of alternative accommodation been started?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe information desired by the hon. Member in the first part of the question is not at present available. As regards the second part, I have approved of the erection of 12,248 houses by 94 authorities which are either earmarked or available for the purposes of the Act of 1930. 3,634 of these houses had on the 30th April been commenced.
§ Mr. ALBERYWill the right hon. Gentleman ascertain the information asked for in the first part of the question, so that he may himself have adequate information?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am always very unwilling to put an additional strain on local authorities by asking them in advance for information which will come to me in due course.
§ Mr. ALBERYDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it sufficient that this housing accommodation should be built "in due course"? Is it not a matter of urgency?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThere are more houses being built now than in 1930.