HC Deb 23 April 1941 vol 371 cc166-7
34. Sir Richard Wells

asked the Minister of Health what Department is responsible for reporting when a reception area is full; whether he is aware that the Services press for accommodation for the Forces, the local authorities for evacuation and education schemes and the Office of Works for the purposes of the ever-increasing Government Departments; and will he take steps to end the present difficulty which prevents the inhabitants from making their maximum contribution to war effort by the worry and hardship entailed by the competitive and unco-ordinated pressure of rival claimants for accommodation upon them?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh)

My Department is responsible for co-ordinating requirements for civil billeting, and these are adjusted with military requirements both regionally and at headquarters. The demands for accommodation in reception areas are bound to increase with the exigencies of war, and this will neces- sarily affect the present standards of comfort and convenience; but the situation in these areas is kept continuously under review, and appropriate measures are taken to prevent overcrowding and to spread the burden as evenly as practicable.

Sir W. Davison

Is the hon. Lady aware that the present unco-ordinated requisitioning of flats and dwelling-houses has become something of a scandal and that in my own constituency large new flats occupied by doctors and others who are doing national work are being requisitioned and the people turned out at a few days' notice, in order to take in refugees from Gibraltar and elsewhere?

Miss Horsbrugh

I think my hon. Friend will agree that this has not been done without co-ordination. If, as I think we all agree, British subjects from Gibraltar or anywhere else are to come to this country while the war goes on, suitable accommodation must be found for them. In the arrangement for taking over flats and other buildings nobody, as far as I know, has been turned out at a few days' notice. If my hon. Friend has any cases like those he has mentioned and will let me have details, I will look into them at once.

Sir W. Davison

Why should they be sent to London? Why should not they be sent into the country or somewhere else, especially as in my constituency there are large unoccupied houses to which they could be sent?

Miss Horsbrugh

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to talk the matter over with me as there are particular difficulties which I could perhaps explain to him. If my hon. Friend would go to certain parts of the country he would find a great many people there who would suggest that these refugees should be kept in London.

Sir R. Wells

Does the Department of the hon. Lady consult other Departments of State in these matters?