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General comment.
The general needs will be evident from the survey results.
It should be borne in mind that certain of the occupants may make
their own arrangements for alternative accommodation and representing
the houses does not necessarily ensure their demolition, although
in the vast majority of cases 1 believe that demolition will result.

In view of the fact that the problem in this district is not in my
view relatively a large one and in view of the fact that slum clearance
has been officially discouraged until now, it can fairly be advanced that
our policy towards the sub-standard dwelling has been far from one of
inactivity.
The present survey does, however, provide a picture which is
adequate to found a programme upon. It has further been clearly
stated in Appendix II, Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, that
proposals may be adjusted in the light of further surveys.
Although 5 years has been noted as the time within which action
is planned, in a district such as ours it may well be found that the size
of the problem enables it to be dealt with within the period noted.
Deferred Demolition.
It might be thought that the type of occupancy and relative
satisfaction noted in the worst houses would justify consideration of a
policy permitting a continuation of their present occupancy so long as
it could be ensured that as they become vacant or as any new development
made appropriate these houses could be precluded from further
use as human habitations. On the other hand from a strictly practical
point of view these houses are considered unfit for habitation and should
not therefore continue to be used for this purpose.
It would seem, however, that local circumstances—analysed in the
light of Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circular 55/54
precludes Deferred Demolition being invoked to assist in the local
solution to the problem of unfit houses.
Summary.
(1) Estimated number of houses unfit for human habitation
within the meaning of Section 9 of the Housing Repairs
and Rents Act, 1954, and suitable for action under
Section 11 or Section 25 of the Housing Act, 1936 ... 69
(2) Number of houses which are to be included in clearance
areas still to be declared (13 areas) 64
(3) Number of houses (including those already comprised in
operative Demolition Orders) to be demolished in the
five years as a result of action under Section 11 of the
Housing Act, 1936 16