HC Deb 17 October 1973 vol 861 cc199-200
23. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to fulfil the Prime Minister's undertaking of 1st January 1972 to get rid of slums.

Mr. Channon

The returns we have received from local authorities in response to Department of the Environment Circular No. 50/72 show that their existing slums can, with very few exceptions, be cleared by the early 1980s. Our proposals for the next phase in our attack on the problem of older houses are set out in the recent White Paper—" Better Homes: The Next Priorities" [Cmnd. 5339].

Mr. Jenkins

Is not the case that the Prime Minister said on 1st January 1972 that his Government would do more than ever before to get rid of slums? Is it not the case that the Government have in fact done less than ever before? Fewer slums have been cleared under this regime and fewer people have been moved than ever before. If the hon. Gentleman doubts that, I will ask the OFFICIAL REPORT to include in the reply the facts which I have here.

Mr. Channon

What the hon. Gentleman overlooks is that one can deal with slums not only by demolition but also by improvement. As has been made clear in the house conditions survey, in each of the preceding five years 110,000 unfit houses were made fit in addition to those which were cleared. In the 12 months up to July, the clearance rate was up compared with the preceding period.

Mr. George Cunningham

Has the hon. Gentleman given close attention to the evidence of the winkling out of tenants in older properties, as brought out in articles in The Times recently on the Chalk and Gwynne-Jones property empire? In particular, is he aware that money from the Crown Agents for Overseas Governments, who are appointed by the British Government, has gone, to the tune of many millions of pounds, into that property empire? Will he consult the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary about it?

Mr. Channon

That is an entirely different question. In fact, there are penalties, on indictment, of an unlimited fine and also imprisonment for those who indulge in harassment or illegal eviction. I urge local authorities, as I have done time and again, to go forward with prosecution in cases of this kind, so that wicked people can be punished in the way they deserve.