§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to change the law regarding the compulsory purchase order system for housing so that residents are informed beforehand of any decision by the council that their houses are to be declared unfit and so that the residents can then collectively, if they so wish, take action within a given period to improve their properties and examine with the council the possibility that the latter might designate their area as a housing action area.
§ Mr. StanleyThere is opportunity for property owners to put forward alternative proposals at the public inquiry into the compulsory purchase order which will follow the declaration of the clearance area. Evidence that properties are capable of rehabilitation at reasonable cost will be directly relevant to the decision on that order. Furthermore, I would expect that in the great majority of cases, residents will be made aware of the local authority's intentions. I will however consider the hon. Member's point further.