§ 20. Mr. Heathcoat Amoryasked the Minister of Health on what grounds the appeal of Mrs. French against the requisitioning by the Exeter City Council of her house, 4 Wrentham Estate, Exeter, was rejected by his Department, seeing that this house was never untenanted, that it was only unoccupied for 16 hours and was not requisitioned during that period; and whether he will take immediate steps to have the requisitioning order terminated.
§ Mr. BevanI am informed that the house was vacant when it was requisitioned by the city council for urgent housing needs, and has in fact been let by them to a building operative with four children. In all the circumstances I do not think I should be justified in reversing the decision.
Mr. AmoryIs it not a fact that two weeks' notice should be given in these cases before requisitioning, as stated in the Ministry of Health's Circular No. 138, and as this does not seem to have been done in this case, will the Minister look into the matter again if I send him further information?