ROSYTH DOCKYARD PERSONNEL (HOUSING).

HC Deb 17 May 1939 vol 347 cc1392-3

40. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that a number of aged pensioners are being turned out of their houses in Rosyth Garden City at the end of May in order to find accommodation for extra personnel being taken at the dockyard, suitable accommodation will be found for these people by the Admiralty authorities in order to alleviate the hardship that will otherwise be caused?

Mr. Shakespeare

Every endeavour is being made to minimise inconvenience and hardship to the tenants in the Rosyth Garden City. To this end arrangements have been made for some 133 houses to be erected by the Scottish National Housing Company, and the Dunfermline Town Council have agreed to reserve about the same number in their Rosyth Halt Housing Scheme for displaced tenants. These houses will not be available by the expiry date of the notices served on the Rosyth Garden City tenants, and it has been decided that, where possible, the tenants shall be allowed to remain in temporary occupation of their present residences.

Mr. Gallacher

In view of the uncertainty and worry that these tenants are enduring, would not the Minister lay it down that none of these tenants will be removed until adequate alternative accommodation has been found for them?

Mr. Shakespeare

Tenants are allowed to remain, where possible, in the occupation of their present houses.

Mr. McLean Watson

Is it the intention of the Admiralty to ask any of these tenants to remove from their houses? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, since the notices were served, a considerable number of houses have been empty and have been handed over to the Admiralty? Is it the intention of the Admiralty to ask any of these tenants to move, and especially the class mentioned in the question?

Mr. Shakespeare

I cannot say that they will in no case be asked to move, but we are trying to do what we want, and that is to find residences with a minimum of inconvenience for a number of men whom we must employ.

Mr. Watson

Is it not a fact that there is an understanding between the Admiralty and the Dunfermline Town Council with regard to the allocation of the houses; and that the town council are making houses available on the site, on the understanding that as little inconvenience as possible will be suffered by the tenants at Rosyth?