§ Mr. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that nine mouths have now elapsed since the Urban District Council of Cowes, Isle of Wight, agreed, in consequence of a complaint by two justices of the peace for the county under the enactments relating to housing, to erect 20 working-class houses in their area and to close 20 houses in their district near the water, and that more than two years have elapsed since the attention of the Department was first drawn to the matter; whether the new 2330W houses have yet been finished and, if so, at what rents are they let; whether closing orders are in force as respects the houses of which the closing and demolition were undertaken by the council; and whether the farther undertaking given by the council that in selecting tenants for the new houses preference should be given to the occupiers of the condemned houses has been duly carried out?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware of the circumstances of the case to which the hon. Member refers. I understand from the district council that it is expected that the 20 new houses approved in October last will be completed by the end of September next, that the Council decided on the 31st May last to issue closing orders on 20 of the houses which were the subject of the complaint, and that further action with regard to these properties will be taken in due course.