HC Deb 17 October 1944 vol 403 cc2188-90
44. Sir Frank Sanderson

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mrs. Joyce Hewitt, of 12, The Common, Ealing, a serving soldier's wife, is unable to find housing accommodation; and, in view of this and many others similarly placed, will he give an assurance that no houses in the borough of Ealing shall be requisitioned for occupation by Italian prisoners.

Sir J. Grigg

In war-time the Army is responsible for finding quarters in War Department property as far as this is physically possible only for families of Regular soldiers on the married establishment who are repatriated from overseas or who are living in this country in conditions of hardship. In other cases Army welfare officers advise families looking for accommodation. As far as I am aware no application has been received from Mrs. Hewitt. As far as the War Department is concerned, I can give my hon. Friend the assurance for which he asks in the last part of his Question.

Sir F. Sanderson

Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that houses requisitioned by his Department in Ealing which are at present being repaired by Italian prisoners of war will be handed over to the local authority when available, in order to assist them in dealing with the terrible shortage of houses in my constituency?

Sir J. Grigg

I understand that the War Office have handed these houses to the Minister of Works. Apart from that I do not at present know, without notice, precisely what is being done with these houses.

67. Sir F. Sanderson

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the houses in Blakesley Avenue, Castlebar Road, Gordon Road and Gunnersbury Avenue, Ealing, now requisitioned by his Department and being repaired and redecorated by Italian prisoners, are being made ready for occupation by Italian prisoners; and whether, in view of the number of people bombed out in the borough who are in urgent need of accommodation, he will immediately release these houses and hand them over to the local authority to alleviate the housing shortage.

Sir J. Grigg

I think that this must be the Question which my hon. Friend asked as a supplementary to an earlier one. The houses to which he refers were all transferred to the Ministry of Works and are no longer held by my Department. I understand that work on the houses ceased on 5th October and that the premises will not be occupied by Italian prisoners of war, but are being transferred to the Ministry of Health for normal housing purposes.

Sir F. Sanderson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the statement he has made will give profound satisfaction to the borough of Ealing?