HC Deb 16 May 1950 vol 475 cc986-7
6 and 11. Sir Ronald Cross

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will now refrain from making any further evictions from No. 8 Families' Camp, Maghull, for the next 12 months or for some other stated period;

(2) whether he will now make available at the Military Camp, Poverty Lane, Maghull, or elsewhere, accommodation for the 19 persons evicted from No. 8 Families' Camp, Maghull, on 30th March, who are still sharing a single room in the British Legion Club, Maghull.

Mr. Strachey

I regret that while I have every sympathy for ex-soldiers and their families in these camps, the grave shortage of Army married accommodation makes it impossible for me to give this assurance. The provision of alternative accommodation for these persons is a matter for the local housing authorities. I have now offered to release Poverty Lane Camp and if the local authority wishes to take it over for housing purposes, an approach should be made to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, to whom I have explained the position.

Sir R. Cross

Am I to understand from that answer that, so far as the right hon. Gentleman is concerned, he has made available sufficient accommodation for the families mentioned in the Questions? With regard to other evicted persons in the future, does the reply mean that they are liable to be rendered homeless, or can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will work in such effective co-operation with other Government Departments and local authorities that there is no possibility of further evicted persons being rendered homeless?

Mr. Strachey

Part of this responsibility must rest, of course, on the local authority. I think we have done our part in releasing this considerable amount of accommodation in Poverty Lane Camp, and I have every expectation, although I cannot, of course, commit the local authority, that they will, in fact, take it up and make it available for these families.

Mr. R. S. Hudson

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the cause of this intolerable delay—because it has been clear for months that this situation was likely to arise—and why it has taken him so long to reach a commonsense conclusion?

Mr. Strachey

No, Sir. Some time ago I gave an assurance that further families would not be evicted until a decision had been reached on the alternative accommodation at Poverty Lane Camp. That decision has been reached, and I have now announced it.

Sir R. Cross

Am I to understand from the Minister's answer that he anticipates that the accommodation he has now made available will, if taken up, be sufficient to take care of any future evictions which his Department may make from the camp at Maghull?

Mr. Strachey

I cannot speak for the indefinite future, but I understand that this is a quite considerable amount of alternative accommodation.