24 and 25. Mr. H. Wilsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) whether he is aware of the delay in the rehousing of 300 families on the Ministry of Aircraft Production Estate at Knowsley, Lancs., despite promises that all these substandard wartime houses would be replaced by 1955; and whether he will hold an inquiry into the delay between 213W the housing of the first 150 families and the remainder;
(2) what information he has received concerning the date by which residents of the Ministry of Aircraft Production Estate at Knowsley will be rehoused; and whether he is aware of the derelict nature of the partly-rehoused estate, with particular reference to the loss of amenities and the problem of rat infestation.
§ Sir K. JosephIn fact, some 300 families from this estate have already been rehoused, and 152 remain to be rehoused under a contract which I approved this month. The houses from the second contract are expected to become available at the rate of about 12 a month, starting about the end of 1963.
The preparation of the second instalment of the scheme by the council was delayed by lack of technical staff.
Housing conditions on the estate are unsatisfactory but I hope that the rehousing scheme will now be completed as quickly as possible.