HC Deb 30 November 1936 vol 318 cc841-2
60. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKE

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the plight of the small shopkeepers in Great Barr Street, Birmingham, whose customers have been removed owing to the slum clearance order in that street; whether, in view of the general desire of the tenants of the demolished houses to live again in that particular area, he will urge the Birmingham City Council to build similar maisonettes there to those the council erected in the Glover Street area?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. R. S. Hudson)

The Great Barr Street clearance areas were dealt with by means of Clearance Orders and under this procedure the cleared site remains in possession of the owners who are, of course, free to redevelop it subject to any conditions that may be imposed by the local authority.

Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

Have these traders no redress?

Mr. HUDSON

Under Section 41 of the Housing Act, 1930, which was extended by the Act of 1935 to cover this particular type of case, shopkeepers not themselves resident in unfit properties whose trade has been substantially diminished by the removal of population can receive payment from the local authority in compensation.

Sir A. M. SAMUEL

Would my hon. Friend make that clear locally so that shopkeepers can take the necessary steps?

Mr. HUDSON

I hope that this question and answer will receive publicity and achieve the object which my hon. Friend has in view.