HC Deb 25 April 1950 vol 474 cc771-2
42 and 43. Sir Ronald Cross

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will refrain from evicting further families from No. 8 Families Camp, Maghull, unless alternative accommodation other than institutional accommodation is provided for them;

(2) whether he is willing to release accommodation in the Military Camp, Poverty Lane, Maghull, for the accommodation of the eight adults and 11 children whom he evicted from No. 8 Families Camp, Maghull, on 30th March, and who have subsequently all been housed in a single room at the British Legion Club, Maghull.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Strachey)

I have every sympathy with ex-Service families in No. 8 Families Camp, Maghull, who are required to vacate the camp, but the accommodation is very urgently wanted for the families of serving soldiers whose needs are equally pressing. For the present, however, no further evictions will be made. I am considering whether some, or all, of the accommodation mentioned by the right hon. Member can be released by my Department, but I should make it clear that the provision of alternative accommodation is a matter for consideration by the local authority.

Sir R. Cross

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that he has had this matter before his Department for eight weeks and that, owing to his inability to come to a decision more rapidly, these unfortunate people have for the last four weeks had to share a single room and to sleep on a stone floor? Can he not in these circumstances expedite his decision?

Mr. Strachey

The only decision we can expedite is whether this alternative camp can be released; but of course we are not a housing authority, and we cannot then decide that it should he used for housing.

Sir I. Fraser

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the main these families came from overseas and thus were cut off from ordinary opportunities of getting housing, and will he impress upon the Minister of Health the need to give some special consideration to ex-Service men in such a plight?

Mr. Strachey

We always want the interests of ex-Service men to be served, but I think that they must be considered with those of other members of the population also; and this accommodation is needed for men coming back from overseas.