§ 59. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the hardship caused to small business people in or on the verge of clearance areas who lose both their business and its goodwill as a result of clearance schemes; and if he will consider the desirability of introducing a scheme for compensating such people for this loss which in most cases deprives them of their livelihood.
§ The Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Mr. Henry Brooke)Local authorities are empowered under the Housing 1131 Act, 1957, to make discretionary payments to business occupiers within clearance areas if their interest is so limited that there is no basis for statutory compensation. They can also make payments to meet the personal hardship to any shopkeeper in the locality of a clearance area whose business suffers because the population has decreased.
I doubt whether it would be practicable to introduce any statutory scheme for compensation in this type of case. But I intend to remind local authorities once again of the desirability of making appropriate use of their discretionary powers.
§ Mr. AwberyI thank the Minister for that Answer, but I wished to inquire into the serious position of some of these people who have opened small shops in or near areas where clearance is to take place. Will the right hon. Gentleman have another look at the matter to see what help he can give them?
§ Mr. BrookeI will look at any evidence which the hon. Member sends to me. I know that there have been a number of complaints of this character from Bristol.