§ 15. Mr. Julius Silvermanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many general improvement areas have been defined and declared by local authorities under the Housing Act 1969.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Paul Channon)134 general improvement areas have been declared by 98 local authorities in England.
§ Mr. SilvermanWill the Minister say whether he is satisfied with this progress, bearing in mind the resolutions and definitions involved are only the first stage of the programme of creating general improvement areas? What steps is he taking to make local authorities press on with these developments?
§ Mr. ChannonOne is never satisfied with the progress. One would always like to go faster. But many local authorities are pressing ahead with this, and my right hon. Friend's general improvement campaign will help. The hon. Member may be interested to know that Birmingham has declared seven G.I.A.s, five of them since last June, and is pressing ahead very fast.