§ 39. Mr. ERNEST YOUNGasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that houses in Nicholas Street, Middles- 1296 brough, are in a condemned area; that four of the houses concerned recently came into the possession of their present owners under the will of their father; that the property bears a mortgage of £190; that the compensation offered is only £24; and whether, in these circumstances, special consideration can be given to the present owners to relieve them of some portion of a liability which they are being deprived of normal opportunities of meeting?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The houses are entirely unfit for habitation, and while he regrets the loss suffered as a result of the investment of money in them, my right hon. Friend has no power to vary the law prescribing the basis upon which compensation can be paid for them.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI have looked into this case, and the fact is that these four cottages were purchased in 1910 for;e210. The rent yielded was £60 a year, and no steps have been taken to pay off the mortgage. The density of these houses was 148 per acre, and I am satisfied that they were rightly condemned.
§ Mr. YOUNGIs it the principle of the Government to visit the sins of the fathers on the children? If it was in the interests of the community that the area should be cleared, should not the whole of the ratepayers carry the burden instead of an undue burden being thrust on the owners?