asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when he will be in a position to confirm the order enabling the Birmingham City Council to acquire the properties necessary for the redevelopment of Ladywood and other redevelopment areas in the city of Birmingham.

I hope, to be in, a, position to issue, my decision on this proposal very shortly.

Will the Minister regard this as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that the application has been in front of the city council for nearly 18 months?

I am very well aware of that, but I have been held up by seven legal decisions.

Is the Minister aware that there are five redevelopment areas in Birmingham, and that thousands of people in those areas are living under inhuman conditions simply because landowners will not take action with regard to rotten property pending the Minister's decision, and will he speed up the matter?