Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Health how many of the houses condemned for slum clearance before the Housing Act, 1935, came into operation were marked for compensation at site value and at market value, respectively; and how many since this Act came into operation have been so marked or allotted the well-maintained allowance?
Mr. HudsonFollowing is the answer:
Compulsory Purchase Orders made by local authorities under Part r of the Housing Act, 1930, and confirmed by my right hon. Friend up to the 31st July, 1935, authorised the acquisition of 25,376 houses. Of these houses 23,589 were classified as unfit for human habitation and to be purchased at site value, and 1,787 as not unfit and to be purchased at market value. The number of 1,787 included 538 houses originally classified as unfit and subsequently adjudged by my right hon. Friend to be not unfit. Corresponding figures for the period from the 1st August, 1935, to the 28th February, 1937, are 25,132 houses of which 22,593 were unfit and 2,539 not unfit. The latter number includes 565 houses removed by my right hon. Friend on confirmation from the unfit category. My right hon. Friend has given directions to local authorities to make payments in respect of 2,659 well maintained houses.