§ 44. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the continuing high level of unemployment, he will now give approval for the immediate building of new hospitals where required in areas of high unemployment; and if he will also seek powers to compel local authorities in these areas to speed up the clearing away of slum property, to increase the number of houses being built, and to provide recreation grounds, thus improving the economic and environmental circumstances in these districts.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNo. Local authorities are best placed to assess the local need for housing and for recreational facilities, but my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction has written to 92 local authorities with slum problems urging them to speed up clearance programmes in the light of the new subsidies that will be available under our reform of housing finance.
Hospital building is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.