§ 15. Mr. E. BROWNasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now give the total figures as to orders for possession of, and ejectment from, houses since 1st August, 1923, as far as they concern the Summary Jurisdiction Courts?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Arthur Henderson)The figures given to me by police authorities for ejectment proceedings in Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in England and Wales during the period 1526 from August, 1923, to March, 1924, both months inclusive, are as follow:
Applications for Orders of Ejectment 14,796 Orders made 9,846 Orders executed 2,685
§ Mr. LUMLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of the orders executed were in respect of houses of which the Government is the landlord?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI am afraid I cannot give the information to the hon. Member, but if he will put down a question I will get it for him.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANDo these figures refer only to England and Wales?
§ Mr. HENDERSONThat is so.
§ 84. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to proceed to evict Mr. Arthur Oakey, an ex-soldier with 10 children, from 15, C Block, Artillery Place, Woolwich?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Stephen Walsh)Mr. Oakey was discharged on 7th January last, and has, therefore, been in irregular occupation of a quarter in barracks for more than four months. The quarter is urgently required for a serving soldier who is entitled to it, and, deeply as I regret the necessity for requiring Mr. Oakey to vacate the quarter, I have no right to allow him to remain there to the exclusion of its proper occupant. I would add that Mr. Oakey has had, in all, six months' notice, and that two written warnings have been given to him, on 8th November and 7th January last, respectively.
§ Sir K. WOODWill the Secretary of State give an undertaking, before he evicts this soldier, who has served his country for 21 years and has a family of 10, that he will find alternative accommodation for him?
§ Mr. WALSHI do not know that the number of the family is very material. As a matter of fact, the State Department has a definite obligation for the housing of married soldiers and their families. The obligation to house the soldiers is just as great to-day as it ever has been, and my hon. Friend knows the great deficiency of married men's quarters. Men who are upon the married strength have a right to that accommo- 1527 dation, and it must be found for them. I have an obligation to find the accommodation when it exists.
Viscountess ASTORSeeing that the man has 10 children, is not this a time for the Government to show a little of that broader humanity of which they talk so much?
§ Sir K. WOODI beg to give notice that, at the earliest opportunity, I shall raise this matter again.