HC Deb 28 October 1952 vol 505 c1709
2. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of House and Local Government the total amount of halfway accommodation available in the county of Middlesex.

Mr. H. Macmillan

There are 77 halfway houses in the County of Middlesex, administered by 21 local authorities and providing accommodation for approximately 740 families.

Mr. Beswick

Does the Minister appreciate that there is likely to be acute hardship this winter, as last, because of inadequate accommodation for evicted families? Will he see if he can get the local authorities to provide more temporary accommodation for unfortunate people who are evicted?

Mr. Macmillan

I will certainly do everything possible to avoid hardship.

Mr. Sparks

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the figures he has given relate to the county welfare services they represent accommodation for roughly 10 per cent. of the families in Middlesex displaced and made homeless by court orders? Will he therefore use his powers to urge Middlesex County Council to increase the number of halfway accommodation in order to rescue many people of this character?

Mr. Macmillan

I will certainly look into that matter sympathetically.

Mr. Beswick

The Minister said that he was prepared to look into cases of hardship. Will he look into his Circular 73/52, which calls upon local authorities to give up requisitioned accommodation, and is therefore likely to reduce the number of halfway houses now available?

Mr. Macmillan

That is quite another point.