§ 88. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has seen the Report of the Tuberculosis 321W Adviser to the Comptroller for Development and Welfare, that special control measures will fail in Trinidad unless housing conditions are improved; and what plans the Government of Trinidad have to improve these conditions.
§ Mr. George Hall:Yes, Sir. I am aware of the statement to which my hon. Friend refers. The Government of Trinidad have extensive plans for the improvement of housing conditions. There are six housing settlements in the Colony, located at St. James, Morvant, Mon Repos, Les Efforts, Hubertstown and Siparia, at which a total of 1,170 houses have been completed while a further 170 are under construction. In addition, two areas of 50 acres each located in the sugar growing districts have been surrendered to Government free of charge by Caroni Estates, Limited, and Usine Sainte Madeleine Sugar Company for development into rural housing schemes. The provision of funds is now under consideration. There are also two land settlement schemes at which there are a total of 182 houses.
Further, slum clearance operations are proceeding within the areas of the City of Port of Spain and the Borough of San Fernando. In the former, 184 properties have been acquired and a number of self contained flats have been constructed or are under construction. In the latter, 203 properties have so far been acquired and self contained flats similar to those in Port of Spain are under construction.