§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of small owner-residents who have been dispossessed as a result of slum clearance operations during the last two years; and the number of such cases in which any compensation has been paid?
§ Sir K. WoodStatistics are not available of the number of owner-residents involved in slum clearance operations. I assume my hon. Friend has in mind in the second part of his question the payments authorised by the Act of 1935 in respect of well maintained houses. Up to 31st December last, I had given directions for such payments to be made in 2,369 cases.
§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Health whether he can make any statement as to the extent to which owners of small businesses, swept away in slum clearance operations during the last two years, have been compensated by the authorities dispossessing them?
§ Sir K. WoodThe allowances to the owners of small businesses to which my hon. Friend refers are entirely at the discretion of the local authority and I have no statistics for the period in question. I have, however, expressed the hope that local authorities will exercise their powers to make reasonable allowances in all suitable cases. I propose to obtain information on the subject and will communicate with my hon. Friend when this information is available.