§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health, with reference to the housing conditions in Devonport, if he will obtain and furnish particulars for each of the last five years as to the number of houses constructed by the town council and by private enterprise, respectively, under the Housing Acts, which have been made available to the inhabitants of Devonport; the number of empty houses, and to what extent they may be acquired under the Housing Acts for the housing of displaced tenants owing to the closing of unfit houses; and particulars of the unhealthy areas which it is proposed to clear either by the Ministry of Health or by some other Government Department?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe number of houses erected by the town council in the Borough of Plymouth, which includes Devonport, under the Housing Acts732W during each of the last five years was follows:
1919 … … … … Nil. 1920 … … … … 4 1921 … … … … 261 1922 … … … … 403 1923 … … … … 36 Total … … … … 704 The number of houses erected by private enterprise under the Housing Acts was as follows:
1921 … … … … 8 1922 … … … … 10 Total … … … … 18 At the date of the last census there were 596 vacant dwellings in the borough, but I have no information as to the number of houses at present vacant in the borough which could be made available for the purpose referred to. It is understood that the council have under consideration the submission of a scheme for clearing an unhealthy area at Stonehouse.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health with reference to the housing conditions in Devonport, if he will obtain and furnish particulars for each of the last five years as to the number of houses in Devonport in regard to which representations have been made to the council or to its officers that repairs were required or that the houses were unfit for human habitation, the number of working-class houses in Devonport as to which orders have been made by the council under the Housing Acts for the carrying out of the repairs or for the closing down of the dwellings as unfit for human habitation, together with the nature of the action taken in each case to carry out such orders, giving the address of each of the houses so represented and/or so condemned as unfit for human habitation, the number of rooms in each house, the number of persons occupying each house, the weekly rent charged for each house or each tenement in each house, where occupied in tenements, and the rateable value of each house?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe following table, which relates to the Borough of Plymouth in which Devonport is situated, compiled from the Reports of the Medical Officer 733W of Health for the Borough, gives as completely as possible the information available
— 1919. 1920. 1921. 1922. 1. Unfit dwelling-houses:— (1) Total number of dwellings inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts). 438 309 280 290 (2) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation. 283 225 16 34 (3) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of those referred to under the preceding sub-heading) found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation. 264 256 2. Remedy of defects without Service of formal Notices:— Number of defective dwelling-houses rendered fit in consequence of informal action by the Local Authority or their Officers. No information. No information. Nil 3 3. Action under Statutory Powers:— A. Proceedings under Section 28 or the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1919. (1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which notices were served requiring repairs. do. 150 204 253 (2) Number of dwelling-houses which were rendered fit:— (a) By owners do. No information. 155 155 (b) By Local Authority in default of owners do. Nil 5 Nil. (3) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders became operative in pursuance of declaration by owners of intention to close. No information. Nil No information. 2 B. Proceedings under Sections 17 and 18 of the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1909. (1) Number of representations made with a view to the making of Closing Orders. do. 58 16 34 (2) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders were made. do. 58 16 34 (3) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Closing Orders were determined, the dwelling-houses having been rendered fit. do. 41 21 11 (4) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made. do. 75 22 21 (5) Number of dwelling-houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders. do. 27 41 18 Note.—The Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1923 has not yet been received.