THE  HOUSING  QUESTION

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reconstruction  scheme,  subject  to  the  work  being  done  within  the
period  prescribed  by  the  Regulations  issued  under  the  Act.
"  So  far  as  c  rcumstances  will  permit,  local  authorities  should
begin  the  work  now,  though  it  may  be  on  a  comparatively  small
scale.  They  will  thus  acquire  the  necessary  experience  to  enable
them  to  cope  with  the  task  when  the  time  arrives  for  more  extensive ­
  operations.”
Dr.  Addison,  Minister  of  Health,  at  Exeter,  Feb.
1921:—
“  When  other  accommodation  has  been  provided  it  would
enable  the  sweeping  away  of  a  large  number  of  slum  areas.”
And  what  during  the  two  and  a  half  years  since  the
Act  passed  has  taken  place  ?  Not  a  slum  has  yet  been
cleared  in  the  whole  country.  The  total  number  of
dwelling-houses  in  schemes  of  slum  clearance  submitted, ­
  including  those  confirmed,  is  “  over  4,000,  with
a  population  approximately  of  20,000"  (Sir  Alfred
Mond  in  the  House  of  Commons,  13th  March,  1922).
It  would  be  safe  to  say  that  the  numbers  confirmed
amount  to  perhaps  a  quarter  of  the  above  figures—
probably  less.  Submission  to  the  Ministry  is  by  no
means  the  same  thing  as  approval.
In  2^  years  therefore,  an  attack  on  the  slums  of
perhaps  5,000  people  in  all  has  been  begun.
Probably  only  a  small  number  even  of  these  have
reached  the  stage  of  actual  commencement  of  clearance ­
  on  the  ground.  It  is  a  long  step  from  “  confirmation ­
  "  by  the  Minister  to  commencement  of  demolition.
Practically  speaking  the  Government  have  done
nothing  worth  recording  in  slum  clearance  in  spite  of
all  their  brave  words.