HC Deb 03 July 1941 vol 372 cc1479-81
32. Mr. Lambert

asked the Home Secretary whether, in order to meet the views of the Devon Council, he will sanction temporary accommodation for the police at Torquay and Totnes instead of building permanently, thereby releasing building material for housing the homeless in Plymouth and neighbourhood?

Mr. H. Morrison

Before sanctioning the building of new premises in these cases, I was advised that suitable alternative temporary accommodation could not be obtained. After my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State had discussed the subject with representatives of the County Council the particular buildings which, it was suggested, might meet the needs of the police were inspected by the Chairman of the Devon Standing Joint Committee, accompanied by local County Council representatives and, in the case of Totnes, by representatives of the local Council. In the light of this visit the Chairman reported in writing that the suggested premises were quite unsatisfactory for the for the purpose. As I explained in reply to a previous Question by my right hon. Friend on 26th June, building material for these stations comes from a general allocation for police purposes.

Mr. Lambert

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his policy is contrary to the judgment of 90 per cent. of the people of Devon; does he realise too that the opinion of the Chairman of the Standing Joint Committee has been turned down three times by the Devon County Council, and when he over-rules that authority, is he not drifting dangerously near to Hitlerism?

Mr. Morrison

It is the case that the Devon County Council has taken a strong view about this matter.

Mr. Lambert

Three times.

Mr. Morrison

I agree, and that view has been taken fully into account, but it is not the case that in relation to the police service the County Council must be the determining authority. The police authority is the Standing Joint Committee. It is really necessary, particularly in war-time, when there is an expanded police force, that the police should have reasonable conditions in which to do their-work with proper efficiency. I am genuinely satisfied that this very much reduced programme in Devonshire is necessary, and I hope the Devon County Council will acquiesce in the arrangements which have been made.

Mr. Lambert

Is it not quite the wrong time, when thousands of people are homeless and the building materials are urgently required elsewhere?

Mr. Morrison

If I may say so, that is not a fair argument. I must deal with the official duties of the police force on their own merits, and if some local authorities had not pursued a very misguided and short-sighted policy before the war, this programme might not have been necessary.

Viscountess Astor

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would go to Torquay and see what is going on there, and also to Plymouth and see what is needed there?

Mr. Morrison

I do not think I can be expected to go to Devonshire in connection with police buildings. Very careful steps have been taken to see whether suitable accommodation was available, and it really is necessary that the police, whom the Noble Lady no doubt wants to do their work, should have that very necessary minimum of accommodation which is conducive to efficiency.

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