HC Deb 14 December 1943 vol 395 cc1371-2
88. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many shops in the Metropolitan area have vacant rooms above them; and what action he proposes to take to enable local authorities to have that accommodation renovated and adapted for domestic occupation, especially in those cases where the shops are now empty?

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

Yes, Sir. My right hon. and learned Friend has recently delegated to clerks of local authorities power to requisition buildings, including shops, for domestic occupation, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular on the subject.

Mr. Sorensen

Can the hon. Lady say how many of these premises have been acquired, seeing that there are a large number in the suburbs of London?

Miss Horsbrugh

I cannot give the hon. Member that information without notice.

Viscountess Astor

Can the hon. Lady say why action was not taken before the fifth year of the war?

Miss Horsbrugh

Earlier in the war it was not necessary to requisition shops and houses for the purpose my hon. Friend has in mind except in particular districts.

Viscountess Astor

These are the districts we are talking about.

Sir H. Williams

Is the hon. Lady aware that the Secretary of State for War has dozens of buildings empty he will not occupy?

89. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any approximate estimate of the number of unsatisfied applications for housing accommodation that have been made to local authorities in the Metropolitan police area during the past two years; also of the number of dwelling-rooms in the area now occupied for military purposes; also of the number of houses now damaged that could be made habitable and the number that should be built; and what consultations have taken place respecting the provision at the earhest possible date of temporary structures as dwellings?

Miss Horsbrugh

The reply to the first two parts of the Question is "No, Sir," but my right hon. and learned Friend has already received from 67 of the 95 local authorities in the London Region programmes for the erection of 21,500 houses as a first instalment. The number of houses damaged and still uninhabitable is approximately 38,000 but in many cases their repair at the present time would entail excessive demands on labour and materials. On the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day by my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio, to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Sir I. Albery).

Mr. Sorensen

Cannot the hon. Lady easily secure the information asked for in the first part of the Question, and further, will she take all steps possible to see that premises now occupied by the military are evacuated at the earliest possible date, as quite a number of these premises were previously tenanted?

Miss Horsbrugh

There are many premises that are being used by the military and by various bodies that have to be accommodated and the matter has been looked into to see what further arrangements could be made. But the hon. Member will realise that certain people have to be housed in certain districts so that the accommodation they occupy cannot immediately be released.