12. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Health the number of unoccupied houses and business premises, respectively, on 30th September, 1946, in each of the Parliamentary Divisions of Liverpool; how many of them were damaged during the war years; how many are owned by the Liverpool Corporation; how many are owned by private interests; how many can be restored to their previous use; how many are considered dangerous; and what instructions have been given by him to the Liverpool Corporation to demolish the dangerous buildings.
§ Mr. BevanThe statistics required are not readily available and I cannot at present give the information for each Parliamentary Division separately or for business premises. I can, however, state that there are approximately 1,200 unoccupied houses in the city, the majority being privately owned and uninhabitable by reason of war damage. It is not possible without further inquiry to say how many could be restored to their previous use. None is considered dangerous but I understand that the corporation intend to deal with the problem of potentially dangerous structures in the City as expeditiously as possible under the Liverpool Corporation Act, 1921. I have authorised the corporation to demolish unoccupied houses which are the subject of demolition or clearance orders provided that this does not curtail new building work.
Mrs. BraddockIs the Minister aware that this is more information than the council were prepared to give to their members in Liverpool, and that the information he has received is quite contrary to the present situation in that city? Will he continue his request to the corporation there to supply him fully with the facts for which I have asked?