HC Deb 01 May 1933 vol 277 cc505-6
36. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that among some property scheduled for demolition at Swalwell, county Durham, is a property on which a building society has a mortgage and which they stand to lose; and, as the society is advised that the property can be properly repaired, will he take steps to allow them to have the repairs carried out?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)

The property to which the hon. Member refers appears to be a property included in the Triangle, Swalwell Clearance Order, 1932, which was confirmed by my right hon. Friend on 3rd January last. He has no further jurisdiction in the matter.

Mr. BATEY

Is it not possible for the Minister to take any steps to save the property, seeing that the property next door is in a worse condition?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

If a building society owns slum property, it is not in a privileged position, and if in fact the house is not fit for human habitation, the society is treated like the owner of any other house.

Mr. BATEY

If it is possible for the house to be put into a decent state of repair, could not that be done?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

No, it is not capable of repair and so was scheduled for demolition.

Mr. MARTIN

In view of the fact that the property is in my division and I have had correspondence with the Minister and the Under-Secretary, would it not be better if the hon. Member made certain of the facts?

Mr. BATEY

If a Member neglects his division—

Mr. MARTIN

In view of the fact that I have corresponded with the Minister and asked whether any useful purpose would be served by asking questions, surely the hon. Member for Spennymoor is not justified in asking a question.

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not think that the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey) should accuse another Member of neglecting his division.

Mr. BATEY

This question has been on the Order Paper for two or three days. If the hon. Member had drawn my attention to it, certainly I would have taken steps to oblige him. I think he might have done that before raising the matter here.

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not touch the matter of another Member's division.

Mr. CAPORN

Can the hon. Gentleman give us the name of the building society which has taken this action?

Mr. McKEAG

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there can be no question that many cases of great hardship have been caused by the demolition without compensation of property belonging to people of very small means, and will he not consider the advisability of taking some action to mitigate the hardship that is created?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

The property in question belongs to a building society, and not a person of small means at all.

Captain CROOKSHANK

Is the matter to be left there and the hon. Member for Spennymoor not to be asked to withdraw?

Mr. SPEAKER

What the hon. Member said was not a disorderly remark, but rather a matter of courtesy.