§ 23. Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Wells House Hydro, Ilkley, which has been converted into a hostel for textile workers, has been empty for more than a year; and when this valuable accommodation will be put to some useful purpose.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI appreciate the desirability of releasing properties of this kind for their normal purposes at the earliest possible moment. I regret that I am not yet in a position to give a definite reply regarding the Wells House Hydro. This building was prepared for occupation as a hostel for women textile workers in September, 1948. Owing to the decline in the number of European Volunteer Workers available from the Continent the hostel has not yet been utilised. Recruitment from other sources of foreign labour is now under consideration and the hostel will be required to house these workers if our efforts are successful.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottWill the Minister say whether the textile trade unions are still preventing German textile workers from coming to this country, and, if they are, and the Government cannot persuade them to alter their attitude, will the right hon. Gentleman hand over this hostel to the local authority so that it can help to relieve the housing situation in Ilkley?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsNo, Sir. For some time we have been in negotiation with the American authorities in the American zone of Germany, where there is a large number of Volksdeutsche. Once that is concluded, we hope to have some from there. Belgian unemployed textile workers are also the subject of discussion for an agreement between the Belgian Government and ourselves. None of the textile unions has offered objections to these two sources if only we can get access to them.