§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual rate of demolition of habitabl 671W houses; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe average annual rate of demolition of dwellings not represented as unfit has, over recent years, been about 20,000. This figure includes dwellings demolished to produce various forms of public development unrelated to slum clearance programmes. For the future, alternative courses of action to deal with older housing are increasingly possible. My Department is currently carrying out consultations on two important circulars which we hope to publish shortly, dealing with relevant provisions of the Housing Act 1974. The circulars will encourage local authorities to adopt a housing policy of flexible, co-ordinated and continuous renewal of their housing stock, with the emphasis on rehabilitation, so as to avoid the disruption of established communities.