HC Deb 27 November 1946 vol 430 cc1600-1
36. Mr. Stokes

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many persons are engaged in the construction of the Hamburg project.

Mr. J. Hynd

There are about 9,000 Germans and 180 British, including those employed on preparing alternative living and office accommodation for Germans

Mr. Stokes

Is it not a fact that there are only 1,700 people engaged in repairing houses for the people, and is it not scandalous that 9,000 people should be engaged on this project when so few people are engaged in repairing houses?

Mr. Hynd

The figures I gave were 9,000 Germans and 180 British engaged on both operations. On the construction of flats, 1,318 are employed, and on construction and rehousing for the German people nearly double that number—2,526—are employed

Mr. Stokes

Is it not a fact that the majority of the people employed on rehousing are employed on rehousing as the result of the Hamburg project and that if it were not proceeded with, they could be employed on building houses?

Mr. Hynd

The question is which houses. I do not quite see why we should not be building houses in Hamburg as well as somewhere else, but these people were engaged as building labour for the building of houses in Germany.

40. Mr. Molson

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people have been evacuated from homes in Hamburg in order to make room for British families.

Mr. J. Hynd

So far 7,027 Germans have been displaced for this purpose.

Mr. Molson

How does this tally with the statement which I understood the Chancellor of the Duchy to make only a few weeks ago that, as a result of this operation, no Germans were being evicted from their houses?

Mr. Hynd

I have no recollection of making any such statement. I did make the statement that in connection with the Hamburg project it was not anticipated that there would be any evacuations of Germans until late 1947 or 1948. On being asked on a previous occasion whether I could give an assurance that no further evictions would be necessary in connection with the families, I said I could not give any such assurance.

Mr. Stokes

Is it incorrect to say that a total of 30,000 people will ultimately be displaced, and that many of them have been already?

Mr. Hynd

The question is in regard to those evacuated in Hamburg to make room for British families, and the figure is as I have given it.

Mr. Molson

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.