HC Deb 10 April 1945 vol 409 cc1661-2
31. Captain Bullock

asked the Secretary of State for War how many houses are still requisitioned by his Department; how many have been derequisitioned in the past six months; and how many of the requisitioned houses are empty at the present time.

Sir J. Griģģ

The number of houses under requisition by the War Office in England, Scotland and Wales was approximately 30,000 at the end of February. One thousand were derequisitioned during February, but I regret that the figures asked for in the second and third parts of the Question are not readily available.

Mr. McKinlay

Will the Minister see that houses which have been requisitioned for security reasons are returned to their owners when the need for security has passed, and that requisitioning is not continued for entirely different purposes?

Sir J. Griģģ

As regards small houses, I should hope that we shall derequisition them at the earliest opportunity.