§ 45. Mr. Awberyasked the Prime Minister what action the Government are taking to assist in the rehabilitation of those people in various parts of the country 849 whose homes and furniture have been wholly or partly destroyed in the recent floods.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)His Majesty's Government have great sympathy with those people whose houses have been affected by the recent floods, and the Government Departments concerned have been doing all in their power to assist in relieving distress. The Army has been responsible for rescue work on an extensive scale in the areas affected. Large numbers of civilians have been evacuated by D.U.K.W.S., amphibious tanks and lorries. Blankets have been made available to civilians on request from local authorities, and assistance has been given, where needed, in the distribution of food and water. Many soldiers have also been working on embankments and constructive work. Water tanks and fire pumps have been made available by the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Transport have been helping to distribute water in East London, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Water Board.
In order to help in the provision of alternative accommodation, and to give general advice and assistance, the Ministry of Health have directed their regional housing officers to co-operate with the regional engineering inspectors and general inspectors, who are keeping in touch with the local authorities in areas where flooding is causing distress. The Ministry of Food are using their emergency service organisation, where necessary, to maintain food supplies. Every effort is being made to continue food distribution through normal channels, but, in the few cases where this has been found impracticable, the local food executive officer, in consultation with the local authority and the divisional food officer, has been able to make special arrangements. Where necessary, emergency feeding centres have been opened.
As regards personal belongings, coupons, dockets, utility furniture, and permits are being made available to meet the needs of persons whose clothing, footwear, bedding, floor covering or curtaining have been irreparably damaged or lost in the floods; and the Regional Distribution Officers of the Board of Trade are also taking all steps with suppliers to ensure that retailers in these areas have essential goods available to meet the special demands arising from the flood damage. 850 The Ministry of Fuel and Power are getting supplies to the areas affected in three ways. Priority of supply is being given to areas where there are no stocks at hand. Small emergency supplies of fuel are being used in other areas, such as Bedford. In producing areas the local fuel overseers are able to authorise extra supplies on the spot for those who need it.
§ Mr. AwberyWhile noting the assistance which has been given, I should like to ask the Prime Minister whether he has a long-term policy. Many hundreds of farmers will be bankrupt, and many thousands of people will be rendered homeless, and will be unable to rehabilitate themselves unless they have generous financial assistance from the Government. Are the Government prepared to consider some method of assistance and compensation on the lines of the War Damage Act, and, if possible, include damage done by floods within the terms of that Act?
§ The Prime MinisterPerhaps my hon. Friend will await the statement which is to be made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture in regard to farmers. I do not think it would be possible to do anything now on the lines of the War Damage Act.
§ Mr. GammansAre not the Government going to do more than this? Is not the Prime Minister going to start a relief fund to enable people to buy bedding, furniture and so on? It is not merely a question of dockets, but of money as well.
§ Mr. MedlicottIs the Prime Minister aware that disasters of this character are annual occurrences in certain parts of the country exposed to serious coast erosion? Will he ensure that anything which he devises to meet the present situation will also extend to the people who suffer from this sort of thing every year?
§ Mr. StubbsWill the Prime Minister consider the possibility of an interest-free loan to help these people?
§ The Prime MinisterPerhaps my hon. Friend will await the statement to be made.
§ Major Legge-BourkeWill the Prime Minister consider, where houses have been severely damaged and in some cases completely demolished, taking action with the Minister of Health to see that 851 additional amounts are allowed by each housing authority above those maximums already fixed for repairs, and will he consider making certain, through the Ministry of Works, that sufficient materials are made available in view of the very widespread destruction inside people's homes?
§ The Prime MinisterI will certainly consider that. I have given the steps taken up to date, but, obviously, one will have to look into the long-term question in greater detail.
§ Mr. HoggDoes not the Prime Minister think it unsatisfactory that the people in the townships concerned should be left simply to the local relief funds organised by the mayors? Cannot he contemplate something more in the nature of a national appeal, having regard to the widespread damage?
§ The Prime MinisterI am prepared to consider that, but we have to estimate the size of the damage and consider the whole conditions and see what is required.