ALCESTER Rural District Council's 10- year slum clearance programme has been given the approval of the Minister of Housing and Local Government, it was reported on Wednesday.

The Minister, it was stated, said he saw no reason to question the council's estimation of the number of houses needing clearance under certain sections of the housing act of 1936. He said that the council should go ahead with the slum clearance work as well as any other active projects of clearances.

In the response to the Minister's requests the clerk Mr J F Smith reported that he had given him a broad account of the first year's programme.

When Alcester first investigated the slum clearance problem it was estimated there were 365 houses unfit for human habitation within the guidelines of the Housing and Repairs Act 1954.