46. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the average time taken by his Department to confirm a clearance area order after an inquiry has been held.
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Dr. HillExcluding a very few cases where exceptional difficulties arise, the average time taken between inquiry and decision for orders made under slum clearance powers is just over three months.
§ Mr. Harry Randallasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish a list of the local authorities with the worst slum problems with whom he proposes to start discussions for forward programmes for the replacement of slums on an increasing scale.
Dr. HillA list of 50 authorities with a long slum clearance task was published in the White Paper "Housing in England and Wales" (Cmnd. 1290) in February, 1961. I cannot yet say with which authorities I shall have discussions for the position is now being examined to see where these seem to be most needed. In any case discussions between authorities and the Department go on all the time.