HC Deb 08 April 1946 vol 421 cc1623-4
26. Flight-Lieutenant Haire

asked the Minister of Supply what plans have been made for the housing of persons employed at the Westcott experimental station.

Mr. Wilmot

Some workers are being accommodated in hostels at Bicester and Aylesbury, and on our housing estate at Aylesbury. The local authority has permission to build 50o houses at Aylesbury, and negotiations are proceeding, which will, I hope, result in the allocation of a proportion of them to employees at Westcott. In the meantime, as a temporary measure, any bungalows which become vacant on our estate at High Wycombe will be used to meet the needs of Westcott.

Flight-Lieutenant Haire

Does the Minister consider it economical to provide transport to convey some of these workers 25 miles to High Wycombe, and to take houses which are about to be handed over to the local authorities?

Mr. Wilmot

It would be much better it the houses were nearer the station, but the fact remains that there are no houses. This is a temporary expedient, and I hope it will not have to last very long.

Sir Stanley Reed

Is the Minister aware, although the Urban District Council of Aylesbury have arranged to build these 500 houses, that there are something like 1,500 applicants in the Aylesbury district alone for houses, apart from any Government demand for Westcott?