§ Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the Minister of Health if the authorities responsible for administering the Public Health Act, 1875, and subsequent Acts relating to the sanitary standards of housing in rural areas of the United Kingdom, have made an inspection of houses in their respective areas during the last 12 years; and what is the number of houses reported as not fit for habitation.
§ Mr. WillinkLocal authorities have a statutory duty under the Housing Acts to cause an inspection of their districts to be made from time to time with a view to ascertaining whether any houses are unfit for habitation. Since 1930, 33,000 unfit houses have been demolished and 159,000 have been made fit for habitation as a result of inspections made in rural districts in England and Wales. Full particulars of the action taken under the Public Health Acts are not available, but during the three years before the war houses in rural districts were being dealt with under those Acts at the rate of 35–40,000 annually. Any question as to the action taken in Scotland would be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.