§ Mr. Templeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the implication of a recent decision by the Lands Tribunal that the law at present permits some repair costs to be taken into account in the ascertainment of the gross values for rating purposes of flats and other hereditaments in a block, as well as a scale deduction from those gross values in respect of repair costs, and whether the Government have any proposals for preventing this duplication.
170W
§ Mr. BrookeThough most local authorities have made good progress with slum clearance and rehousing over the past five years, a great deal more remains to be done, particularly in the larger cities. I am concerned to ensure that the rate of clearance is speeded up in these cities, and my proposals in the Housing Bill now before Parliament to relate the payment of subsidy more closely to the financial need of the individual authority will assist to that end. The information asked for in the last part of the Question is given in the following table.
§ Mr. BrookeYes. The Government have been considering what change should be made in the law, and it is proposed to move an amendment in another place to the Rating and Valuation Bill at present before Parliament.