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179
a housing scheme was not necessary in respect of the persons of the working
class to be displaced, ample similar accommodation being available
in the immediate neighbourhood.
The Board asked for observations of the Borough Council on the
application, and the matter being urgent, the Public Health and Housing
Committee were of opinion a housing scheme was unnecessary in the cases
in question, and so informed the Local Government Board.
Housing or the Working Classes Bill.
This Bill amends and adds to the powers of the Local Government
Board and those of local authorities under the Housing Acts. These Acts
are already very complicated, and, until a consolidating enactment is
passed, an amending Bill, drafted as it must be with reference to the
existing Acts, cannot avoid adding to the complication.
The Bill adopts the principle of the existing Acts, especially those
of the principal Act of 1890, and, apart from some minor alterations,
aims only at the better enforcement of those principles, in the view that,
subject to minor alterations, existing legislation would be sufficient, if
it were properly enforced.
The main alterations proposed with a view to enforcing the Acts
are—
(a) A special department of the Local Government Board
is to be formed which will be employed exclusively in the supervision
of the operations of local authorities under the Housing Acts.
This department will co-ordinate the work of the various officers
of the Board already employed in the work. It will assist local
authorities by advice and information, and will annually make a
special report to Parliament on housing matters.
Where a local authority is culpably neglecting its housing
duties, the Local Government Board will be empowered, after
application to the court, to deal with slums and to provide housing
accommodation itself in place and at the cost of the local authority.
(b) In some areas the failure to deal with the slum evil and
to carry out housing schemes under Part III. of the principal Act
arises not from any unwillingness on the part of the local authority,
but from financial difficulties. It is therefore proposed by the
Bill to provide a Parliamentary grant in aid of housing operations
upon the analogy of the funds administered by the Road Board
in aid of road improvement.
M