§ 24. Mr. Julius Silvermanasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the facts that the compensation paid by Birmingham Corporation to a firm of brewers in respect of the site value of an unfit house, 42 Phillips Street, Aston, was £208, and that whereas, in respect of the site value of a similar dwelling, 99 Victoria Road, Aston, acquired by Birmingham Corporation, only £50 has been offered to the owner-occupier, whether he will hasten his review of compensation for unfit houses.
§ Mr. MellishI do not know all the circumstances which might affect these values, and my hon. Friend knows that compensation in particular cases is not a matter for my right hon. Friend; he is, however, considering the general problem 306 with others affecting the older housing stock.
§ Mr. SilvermanWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that, as the law now stands, there is in effect one law for the rich and one for the poor, and that the owner of several properties may get several times the amount of compensation which is paid to an individual owner-occupier who gets the same site value? Will he therefore expedite his Departmental inquiry; and can he say when he expects it to report?
§ Mr. MellishI hope that early next year my right hon. Friend will be able to say what he has in mind for dealing with these problems. The whole subject of compensation is very much under review now.
§ Mr. RipponIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is grave and widespread public dissatisfaction with the way in which the present law relating to compensation is being operated? Will he give this review a much higher priority than he evidently has in mind at the moment?
§ Mr. MellishI accept that there is some urgency in the matter, but the right hon. and learned Gentleman and others will agree that we ought not to encourage a market in unfit houses. We had better get it perfectly clear that when we discuss site compensation we are talking about some houses which are so unfit that all they are worth is the site value.