§ 29. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister forWelsh Affairs if he is aware that people who have occupied their houses for upward of twenty years are now being called upon by local authorities to pay for the making up of the road in front of their homes; and, in view of the fact that many of these are aged people, if he will take steps to change the law and make this the responsibility of the local authorities.
§ Mr. CorfieldMy right hon. Friend does not think that this change would be justified, Means of avoiding hardship to individual owners are available under the law as it stands and are widely used by local authorities.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that when the roads are made up they are used by the public generally? Therefore, the public generally should pay for them, particularly as this question affects the man living at the corner of the street who has a double section. I should like the Minister to look at this problem, even if it is only from the point of view of the man living at the corner.
§ Mr. CorfieldWhile I will look again at the question of the man living at the corner, I should say that it is generally accepted that the betterment accruing to the houses generally outweighs the cost of the street work.