§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will consider the desirability of instituting legislation enabling a local authority to pay reasonable compensation to an owner of a dwelling which has been reconditioned by him with the consent of such local authority, but is subsequently acquired by the authority under a slum clearance scheme as being insanitary on account only of its environment;
(2) whether, with a view to inducing local authorities to formulate and put into effect slum clearance schemes, he will consider the desirability of instituting legislation entitling such local authorities to pay higher compensation to owners of houses which are acquired by them under schemes on account of such buildings, although they are in good and sanitary 943W repair and condition, being deemed to be insanitary on account only of environment, than to those owners whose houses are acquired on account of such houses being in a bad, insanitary, and/or neglected state?
Sir H. YOUNGI understand that suggestions on somewhat similar lines have been submitted to the Departmental Committee on Housing which is presided over by the right honourable the Lord Moyne. Further consideration of the matter must await the committee's report.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to ensure that the address of each house or building included in a slum-clearance scheme formulated by a local authority shall be set out in the report of such scheme sent to him by the authority; that the fact that such report has been sent to him shall be advertised in the district to which the scheme relates; and that particulars of each house or building referred to in the scheme shall be obtainable by any person affected upon application to the local authority?
Sir H. YOUNGProvision to meet my hon. Friend's point is already made by the Housing Act, 1930, and the Housing Acts (Form of Orders and Notices) Regulations, 1932. A Schedule containing the description and situation of the properties included in the Order and the owners, lessees and occupiers (other than tenants for a month or less) is attached to every Order made by a local authority in respect of a clearance area, and notice of the making of such an Order is published in local newspapers and served on the owners, lessees and occupiers. The place where a copy of the Order and map can be inspected is stated in the notices.