§ 27. Mr. PALINGasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the circumstances under which the Winterton Urban District Council are seeking to obtain an ejectment order against W. Marshall, 4, Roxby Road, Winterton; that when cases of a similar character have previously been brought before the bench of magistrates the magistrates have expressed disapproval of the action of the council; and whether he will make inquiries into the administration of the housing regulations under this council?
Sir H. YOUNGThis matter has not previously been brought to my notice, but the inquiries which I have made show that the council have not as yet applied for an ejectment order against the man named, who has on several occasions been in arrear with his rent. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative, though I understand that on one occasion the chairman of the bench expressed a wish that the council should exercise all the leniency they could. The reply to the third part of the question is also in the negative; the administration of the housing estates of a local 517 authority is not a matter which I have power to control by regulation but is vested in the local authority by Section 67 of the Housing Act, 1925.
§ Mr. PALINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is not a question of arrears, but a question of the accumulation of arrears. The people were not in at the time the collector called, but the arrears were paid on the next occasion when the collector called. They complain that this has happened on previous occasions and consider that something should be done?