§ 22. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that Mrs. Schofield of Clackwell Street, Rochdale Road, Oldham, is living in a house of one room and scullery downstairs with no fireplace, holes in the floor and holes in the roof; and what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the health of this household.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI was not aware of this case because no one had brought it to my knowledge. It is entirely for the 972 Oldham Council to decide in which order they will deal with unfit houses in Oldham and arrange for rehousing. As the hon. Member well knows, and as I saw for myself when I visited Oldham in June, the Council are faced with an immense slum clearance problem, which I am sure they are determined to tackle.
§ Mr. HaleHas not the right hon. Gentleman noticed that this has been aggravated by higher rents? He will be glad to hear that this lady was rehoused by Oldham's Labour Corporation and its very energetic medical officer last Friday, four days after this Question was put on the Order Paper, but we are still faced with the fear that these wretched premises will be relet to somebody else.
§ Mr. BrookeI am glad to hear that this problem has been solved, but I should welcome it if the hon. Member would send me further information about the previous Question.