§ 9. Mr. Probertasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce legislation to assist owners of houses affected by the demolition of adjacent houses leaving the party wall exposed to the elements.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattNo, Sir. Local authorities already have power to require an owner demolishing properties to weatherproof exposed party walls. It is then open to the owner to ask the courts to decide whether the cost of doing so should be shared with the owner of the exposed wall.
§ Mr. ProbertIs the Minister aware that that answer does not meet the situation at all, and shows complete ignorance of the problem? Many of those affected are old-age pensioners—often both parties. Through no fault of their own, surviving parties have to pay a considerable amount to weatherproof the house. The situation requires emendation of the existing law, and I appeal to the hon. Gentleman to have another look at the question to see what he can do about it.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattI am aware that this is an extremely difficult problem and that the hon. Gentleman raised it with my predecessor at the Welsh Office. Local authorities have power to make loans to house-owners faced with the cost, or part of the cost, of weatherproofing exposed party walls.