HC Deb 13 December 1955 vol 547 cc986-7
26. Mr. A. J. Irvine

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the total number of houses in England and Wales, proposed in Command Paper No. 9593 to be demolished in the first five years, exceeds his estimate of the number of houses at present fit, but expected to become unfit, during the same period; and by how many.

Mr. Sandys

I have no doubt that the answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, but I have insufficient information upon which to base any reliable estimate.

Mr. Irvine

Would it not be a desirable thing for the Minister to collect the information, which would make a more specific answer to this Question possible? Does he not expect that that information. when it is collected, will emphasise the cumulative difficulties facing authorities on slum clearance?

Mr. Sandys

The future rate of deterioration depends upon many different factors which it is very difficult for local authorities to assess in advance. In any case, I am very well satisfied that in the reports which they have put in on slum clearance local authorities have set themselves a target which is quite as high as they are likely to be able to achieve.

Mr. Mitchison

Since most of these figures ought to have been put in by local authorities by the end of August, when does the Minister expect that he will be able to include them in the Housing Returns, as he promised?

Mr. Sandys

I think that the hon. and learned Member has not understood the Question. What is asked is the estimate of the rate of deterioration which is to take place in the next five years—in other words, how many houses which today are fit will be unfit in five years. Naturally, that is not included in the return asked for from local authorities.

Mr. Mitchison

When does the right hon. Gentleman propose to let us know how many houses it is expected are to be demolished in the first five years and how many unfit houses there are in each local authority's area?

Mr. Sandys

Those figures have been published and have nothing—or very little—to do with the Question on the Order Paper.