§ 34. Mr. Eric Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that no steps will be taken to evict tenants from premises in Islington belonging to the Territorial Army and Air Force Association until alternative accommodation has been found for them.
§ Mr. ShinwellI regret that I cannot give the assurance for which my hon. Friend asks. All the occupants of these quarters have had very long periods of notice. The quarters are urgently needed for Regular Army staff instructors and their families who are living in conditions of the most extreme hardship.
§ Mr. FletcherBut will my right hon. Friend at any rate delay taking eviction action until the procedure suggested by the Minister of Health, in fullest consultation with the local authorities, has been carried out?
§ Mr. ShinwellAccording to my advice, "notice to quit" was served on 13th February last, and I understand that the procedure to which my hon. Friend refers has been fully carried out.
§ Colonel J. R. H. HutchisonIs the right "hon. Gentleman aware that this difficulty is by no means confined to the area in question, and that in one case in Scotland, at least, the permanent staff instructors have been unable to find any accommodation and have been billeted on squatters?
§ Mr. ShinwellI am well aware that the case referred to by my hon. Friend is not peculiar. There is a great deal of trouble about this, but I really must find accommodation for the Regular Army staff instructors.
§ Mr. FletcherBut will my right hon. Friend make sure that, before these tenants are actually evicted, arrangements are made with the Minister of Health and the local authorities for them to be rehoused somewhere else?
§ Mr. ShinwellAs I have said to my hon. Friend, the procedure has been fully carried out. There have been consultations with the appropriate Government Departments and the local authorities, but if in the end, alternative accommodation cannot be found, I must take the action to which I have referred.