HC Deb 09 July 1942 vol 381 cc929-30
33. Mr. Hannah

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to deal with cases in which all the requirements of the Housing Act of 1930 are satisfied by the demolition of a condemned building, he will take steps to give the local authority power to require the owner to clear the site of old beams, bricks and other rubbish?

Mr. E. Brown

I may remind my hon. Friend that a Clause to this effect was proposed in the Housing Bill of 1935, but was rejected on the grounds that it would have been confined to sites under the Housing Acts and that if anything of this kind were to be done it should be applicable to all sites. The matter, though important, is small in relation to the position created by war damage and has been noted for future general legislation.

Mr. Hannah

Is it not a very absurd state of the law that although it is all right to destroy a building and make an appalling mess, the building may not be used for any other than residential purposes even though in a few cases there may be interesting archaeological features about it?

Mr. Brown

There is a general aphorism about the law, but I express no opinion about it.