§ 26. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Health what is the policy of His Majesty's Government for responsibility for housing Poles formerly accommodated by the National Assistance Board.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Aneurin Bevan)So far as my Department is concerned, I invite local authorities to assume the administration of camps occupied by Polish families where the camps contain other accommodation which can be made available for housing purposes.
§ Major Legge-BourkeWould the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that when he is asked by local authorities for assistance in taking over these camps, and that assistance is not forthcoming, he will not compel the local authorities to take over those camps?
§ Mr. BevanAs a rule, when local authorities have been asked they have agreed. In the case that the hon. and gallant Gentleman has in mind there is accommodation in the camp for 20 families. We thought the local authority would be interested in administering the camp in order to get 20 families into the camp alongside the Poles. When the local authority does this we usually have a conference with the Departments concerned and the Parliamentary Secretaries, but we do not use compulsory powers because it is no use compelling local authorities to do this work unwillingly.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the right hon Gentleman not aware that in the case he mentioned, according to the memorandum from the National Assistance Board, there were 644 persons involved, and that this 305 would mean a very serious interruption in the local authority's housing scheme for their own people?
§ Mr. BevanI think that is where the local authority is under a misapprehension. This does not affect their own housing needs at all. In fact, according to my information it would provide accommodation for 20 additional families in the locality.