§ 33. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Health what course of action is open to him where local authorities, acting as his agent, fail adequately to exercise the powers of requisitioning unoccupied property for housing purposes.
§ Mr. BevanI am prepared to take up with a local authority any case in which I am satisfied that they are not making adequate use of their delegated powers.
§ Mr. SparksIs the Minister aware that a few months ago I drew his attention to the existence of several thousands of unoccupied dwellings in Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster, Paddington and St. Marylebone, a large proportion of which could be made available for housing purposes? Can he say whether he is satisfied that his powers are being adequately exercised in these areas?
§ Mr. BevanIt does not happen to be the case that a large unoccupied house is always capable of adaptation without an enormous expenditure of money. Is the hon. Member also aware that houses which have been taken over by local authorities in some boroughs are unable to be occupied because we have not the building material and labour to adapt them?
§ 35. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Health if he will extend the power of requisition to unoccupied and inadequately occupied furnished houses in areas where the housing shortage is acute.
§ Mr. BevanThe powers I have delegated to the clerks of local authorities enable them to requisition unoccupied furnished houses. I am prepared to consider applications for the delegation of powers to requisition inadequately occupied furnished accommodation in par- 1043 ticular cases, where I am satisfied that there is an exceptional demand for housing accommodation which cannot be met in any other way.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithCan the Minister say whether in such cases the tenant is allowed to remove the furniture or any part of it?