§ 53 Sir Jonah Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Health (1) whether it is his custom, in those cases in which a slum clearance order under the Housing Acts, 1936, is confirmed, to require the local authority to provide an equivalent amount of accommodation in terms of persons dispossessed to that which is to be demolished or removed;
(2) whether it is his custom to require the same or any new accommodation to be provided by the local authority in place of huts, tents, caravans and similar structures at present being used for habitation which may be included for demolition or removal under a slum clearance order as confirmed;
(3) whether, in confirming a slum clearance order, the selection of tenants for the new equivalent houses is left to the discretion of the local authority without 1023 reference or regard to those persons actually dispossessed under the clearance scheme?
§ Sir K. WoodBefore unfit houses, huts, tents, caravans and similar structures used for human habitation are cleared, it is the duty of local authorities to provide housing accommodation equivalent to the number of persons displaced. The selection of the tenants for the new accommodation is a matter for the local authority.
§ Sir J. MellorDoes my right hon. Friend make a practice of postponing the confirming of an order until he is satisfied that equivalent accommodation is actually available?
§ Sir K. WoodI will send my hon. Friend exact particulars of our procedure in these matters, but there is a duty laid upon the local authorities in this connection.