§ Mr. KENYONasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Chesterfield Corporation have power, under the Chesterfield Corporation Act, 1923, to carry out certain street improvements and to purchase certain property, and that such property includes a number of houses that are unfit for human habitation; and, seeing that many of such houses are not required to be demolished for the street improvement, but should be cleared away in the interests of good housing, and that the street improvement scheme and the rehousing scheme should be carried out concurrently, will he consider the granting of a subsidy or other form of financial assistance to the corporation to meet the cost of the erection of the houses required for the tenants who must be displaced by the demolition of such of the insanitary houses as are not required for the street improvements; and whether he is prepared to reconsider his previous decision?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am aware that by the Chesterfield Corporation Act, 1923, the Town Council of Chesterfield have been given power to purchase certain properties, including houses which are occupied by persons of the working class, for the purpose of carrying out a street improvement authorised by the Act. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1903, imposes on the local authority an obligation, before entering on any such dwelling-houses, to obtain my approval to a housing scheme, or a decision that such a scheme is not necessary. I have no power to grant financial assistance in respect of houses which may be required to be erected under a scheme of this nature.