§ 35. Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the Minister of Health why Audley End Mansion, near Saffron Walden, has not been utilised for the housing of evacuees?
§ Miss HorsbrughA family of eight persons has been billeted on the owners of Audley End Mansion in a self-contained part of the house. The local authority is prepared, if the need should arise, to billet further persons in the house so far as it is suitable for the purpose.
§ Mr. HallIs the hon. Lady aware that this very large mansion is capable of taking far more people than are at present there, and that there is a feeling locally that Lord and Lady Howard de Walden are preventing its full use for the homeless or evacuated? Will the hon. Lady have the truth or otherwise of this assertion examined?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe matter has been looked into. All the people who have arrived in that district have been billeted, or have gone to relatives or into requisitioned houses. I would point out to the hon. Member that a large house is not necessarily convenient for billeting large numbers of people, but, if necessary, more will be put into this House. There has been an examination on the property.
§ Mr. SorensenWill the hon. Lady inform me how many rooms there are in this mansion?
§ Miss HorsbrughI cannot give the exact number, but it is no use having a number of rooms it there is not sufficient sanitary accommodation or sufficient cooking facilities.
§ Mr. SorensenIs it not a fact that there are many rooms there which could be used for evacuation purposes?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe hon. Member knows that if one is to put evacuees into a house there must be sufficient sanitary accommodation and sufficient cooking facilities. At present there are eight persons in this house, and if the need arises other alterations will have to be made in the house in order to provide for a large number of people.