HC Deb 03 July 1951 vol 489 cc2129-30
27. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will investigate the possibility of some arrangement being made whereby condemned cottages, which cannot be pulled down owing to the lack of other housing accommodation, may be made weather proof and inhabitable, particularly where the low rental makes it impossible for the owner to meet the expense involved.

Mr. Dalton

If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any cottages which he has in mind, I will look into the matter.

Mr. Bossom

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that all over the country there are many cottages of this sort with which the Minister must, or should be, acquainted; and, in the circumstances, could he not give this consideration to see whether something could be done, as there is a possibility that a great many of these houses could be used for helping to lessen the housing problem.

Mr. Dalton

This question relates to condemned property.

Mr. Bossom

They are condemned.

Mr. Dalton

Exactly. If they are condemned they are not fit to be lived in. Therefore, in the great majority of cases it would be a misuse of building labour and materials, which could be used in building good new houses, to expend them on patching up condemned houses.

Mr. Bossom

While agreeing that it is better to have new houses, might I ask, when we are not having enough new houses and people are having to live, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, in condemned houses, whether he would not make some temporary arrangement whereby people can have a place to live in?

Mr. Dalton

I have already asked the hon. Gentleman to give me details of any particular cases, but generally speaking I would be against using building labour and materials on patching up condemned houses.

Forward to