§ 9. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that a large number of houses in Oldham and Lancashire generally are now in a condition in which they are unfit for human habitation; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation to suspend payment of rent whilst a house is certified as unfit for human habitation.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanNo, Sir. Local authorities already have power under the Housing Acts to repair an unfit house at the owner's expense, and, if necessary, to recover the money from the rent due to him. I am considering the whole problem of houses falling into disrepair. It is not, I am afraid, confined to Lancashire.
§ Mr. HaleHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the problem of a corporation like Oldham bearing this expense of reconditioning 10,000 houses, most of which cannot be re-conditioned, anyhow? [Laughter.] I am very much obliged for that intervention. What I said was: Has the Minister considered the case of Oldham in attempting to recondition something like 10,000 houses, most of which could not be efficiently reconditioned—[HON. MEMBERS: "Ah."]— or economically re-conditioned? I am very glad that I have now made the point clear to hon. Gentlemen on the Government side of the House. Will the Minister bear in mind that tenants are having to buy more and more coal, spend more on fuel in damp and disgraceful housing, and bear very heavy burdens which are no fault of theirs?
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Hale—No. 10.
§ Mr. HaleAm I to assume that the right hon. Gentleman is refusing to answer my supplementary question on Question No. 9?
§ Mr. MacmillanI am sorry. The Question called is Question No. 10.
§ Mr. HaleI have asked a supplementary question to Question No. 9 which the right hon. Gentleman has refused to answer.
§ Mr. MacmillanI thought the supplementary question was so diffuse that it almost answered itself. I will certainly 820 bear in mind all the points put in such a cogent and coherent manner by the hon. Gentleman.