§ 41. Mr. Henry Whiteasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations have been made to him by the Derbyshire County Council to have an Order made for the provisions of the New Streets Act, 1951, to apply to the rural district of Chesterfield; whether he has now made such an Order or why he has deferred making such an Order; and if he is aware of the concern felt within the rural district of Chesterfield that a recurrence of the difficulties caused by private development in 1930 and subsequent years may have again to be endured if an Order is not made.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe Derbyshire County Council has asked me to make an 194 Order applying the New Streets Act, 1951, to certain rural districts in the county. The Act requires persons erecting buildings in private streets to pay or secure to the local authority the estimated cost of street works before building begins. It does not necessarily secure that the streets are made up; and the charges are payable irrespective of the time that may elapse before this work is undertaken. It applies to persons building houses for their own occupation as well as to persons building for sale. I have received complaints, from housing authorities and other sources, about the operation of the Act, and I would prefer not to extend its provisions to any further areas for the time being. I have so informed the Derbyshire County Council.
§ Mr. WhiteDoes the last part of the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that he is not satisfied that the Act is working as it was intended, and will he therefore consider if it is possible to have legislation to improve it?