§ 20. Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Minister of Health whether he will review the position in certain Metropolitan areas where housing accommodation is urgently needed while at the same time many empty houses are held in reserve by the local authority upon instructions of his Department?
§ Mr. E. BrownI can assure my hon. Friend that the amount of accommodation held in reserve is under continuous review in the light of the special circumstances of each district, and has in fact been substantially reduced in recent months. I 350 am most anxious that housing accommodation shall be used to the best advantage and shall be glad to investigate the conditions in any area which my hon. Friend may bring to my notice. He will, I am sure, appreciate that local authorities must be in a position to rehouse people rapidly should heavy raids recur.
§ Mr. MorrisonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this question is causing more concern among people in certain areas than almost any other factor in connection with the war, and if I send him some specific instances, will he lock into them?
§ Mr. BrownI shall be most happy to do sc, and I shall be happy to send to my hon. Friend figures, which for obvious reasons I cannot publish, from which he will see that not only has the question been under review, but that action has been taken and that many fewer places are held in reserve.