HC Deb 04 May 1959 vol 605 cc15-6W
Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that in many cases under compulsory clearance schemes, in which local authorities are compelled to close down property unsuitable for dwellings, they are not enabled to compensate the owner-occupier to a greater extent than £1; and if he will take steps to remove this anomaly, which causes hardship to a number of people living in the clearance areas of Bristol.

Mr. H. Brooke

I am aware that offers of only nominal compensation are sometimes made for sites of unfit houses. This may be because the sites are held to be too small in themselves to permit redevelopment, or because of the existence of annual charges or other legal liabilities. The Government have however, taken a number of steps to avoid hardship to owner-occupiers. Most of them now qualify for full compulsory purchase value under the provisions of the Second Schedule to the Housing Act,1957. Further, a Government Amendment to the Town and Country Planning Bill now before Parliament was agreed to in Standing Committee which in future will guarantee all owner-occupiers of unfit houses a minimum payment equal to the gross value of the house for rating.

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