§ 30. Mr. Dobbieasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the cost incurred in the erection of the miners' hostel at Rotherham; the total accommodation of same; the number accommodated in it at the moment; the highest number who at any given time have been accommodated; and the number of youths who have been directed to the mines in the district.
§ Mr. T. SmithThe cost of erecting the hostel is expected to be about £74,000; it was planned to provide accommodation for 350, but after building had started the sleeping accommodation was reduced to 200. Owing to the unexpectedly large proportion of men allocated for coal-mining employment in the Rotherham area, who either live in the neighbourhood of collieries or have found lodgings for themselves, it has not yet been necessary to open the hostel, but if the flow of men directed to Government training centres continues at the present rate, it may be necessary to do so shortly. As regards the last part of the Question, the number of men directed to mines in the Rotherham area is about 320.
§ Mr. DobbieIn view of the shortage of housing and the terrible overcrowding in the district, may I ask the Minister to expedite the opening of this hostel as much as possible?