§ 33. Mr. LUNN(for Mr. PRICE) asked the Minister of Health if he can make any statement on the position of slum clearance?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEARESince the passing of the Housing Act, 1930, up to the 13th June, resolutions had been received from 185 Local Authorities declaring 847 areas, comprising 21,938 houses, to be 321 clearance areas; 592 Clearance and Compulsory Purchase Orders affecting 16,117 houses had been submitted and of these Orders 390, affecting 9,414 houses, had been confirmed. A further 729 houses, in 39 clearance areas, had been purchased by agreement by 17 local authorities. It is too early yet for a statement on the results of my right hon. Friend's recent circular to local authorities.
§ Sir FRANCIS FREMANTLEHas my hon. Friend any idea of what relation this bears to the complete programme that is to be carried through in five years?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREOh, very little at all. This is the position previous to the change in housing policy by the Government.
§ Sir F. FREMANTLEHave not the local authorities been asked to provide an estimate of the action they propose to take in order to complete this slum clearance in five years?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy hon. Friend will remember that the local authorities were asked to let us know their programme, and how they intend to deal with the problem, by September next. At present it is too early to say what the result will be.