§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for the Environment in the light of the results of the National House Conditions Survey, 1971, what further steps he intends to take to deal with the remaining slums and with those houses still lacking basic amenities.
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§ Mr. AmeryMy right hon. Friend is sending a circular to all local authorities telling them of the very real progress achieved in the last four years in tackling the slums and those houses lacking amenities, and inviting them to join in a concerted and decisive drive to ensure that within a decade no one should be required to live in an unfit or substandard house.
Housing authorities are being asked to ascertain the age, condition and tenure of their existing housing stock; to assess their housing need; to review their current plans for tackling unsatisfactory housing; and to draw up a strategy for dealing with their problems by 1980 or before. The circular invites local authorities to inform the Secretary of State of the results of their deliberations and to let him know what obstacles stand in the way of their attaining the objective stated above.