HC Deb 16 November 1928 vol 222 cc1261-2W
Sir R. GOWER

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to introduce, during the lifetime of the present Parliament, legislation amending Section 46 of the Housing Act, 1925, and providing that adequate compensation shall be paid by local authorities to the owners of habitable houses in insanitary areas acquired by such local authorities under slum-clearance schemes?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given yesterday to a similar question which he addressed to the Prime Minister.

Mr. CULVERWELL

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that alarm exists in the Borough of Bristol on account of the circumstance that the local authority there is prohibited by Section 46 of the Housing Act, 1925, from

Service. 1923–24. 1924–25. 1925–26. 1926–27. 1927–28.
£ £ £ £ £
Maternity and Child Welfare (including grants in respect of training of midwives and health visitors). 195,342 201,874 204,431 215,488 223,368
Turberculosis (including certain capital grants towards the provision of sanatoria). 140,964 129,490 108,925 102,320 108,323
Venereal Diseases 7,064 9,587 10,114 9,555 7,507
Welfare of the Blind 83,407 93,744 101,180 109,949 116,459
Mental Deficiency 7,289 7,544 7,685 8,362 8,528
Total 434,066 442,239 432,335 445,674 464,185

paying reasonable compensation to the owners of the sound houses situate in the area it proposes to declare unsanitary; and whether he will consider, as a matter of urgency, the introduction of legislation amending this Section?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I am aware that the Corporation of Bristol have a scheme under consideration for the clearance of an unhealthy area, but I would point out that any properties included in the scheme otherwise than on account of their sanitary condition or being dangerous or injurious to health will not be subject to compensation on the basis of site value only as laid down by Section 46 (1) of the Housing Act, 1925, but will come within the terms of compensation laid down in sub-section (3) of that Section. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which the Prime Minister gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Sir R. Gower) on the 14th instant.