§ 33. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, if he will now publish the revised programmes for slum clearance submitted to him by local authorities at his request; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephIn Circular No. 2/60 local authorities were asked to submit further proposals for slum clearance where appropriate, at a stage depending on their progress with what are known as the 1955 proposals. As the majority of local authorities have not yet submitted further proposals, and as those that have been submitted relate to widely differing base dates and may well be subject to further revision, I do not think any useful purpose would be served by publishing those my Department has so far received.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the Minister aware that he or his predecessor was able some years ago to publish such a report, and may I ask him how it is proposed to help these local authorities to accelerate their slum clearance programmes, as at the present rate it will take two generations in some areas to do so? Is this not a national problem requiring national assistance?
§ Sir K. JosephWe were able to publish some detailed figures in 1960 because we had a special survey. I do not want to take away officers who are on the job now to make another survey when we are hoping to make individual contacts with the authorities most in need. I think that is how we could help most.