§ 11. Mr. Morleyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what will be the total amount of capital expenditure allowed for the reconstruction of the bombed area in Southampton during 1953.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanI regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. MorleyCould the Minister say what is the reason for this delay in granting the necessary licences for reconstruction? Is it due to the shortage of steel in spite of the expanding steel production, or is it due to the general policy of the Government of the curtailment of capital expenditure?
§ Mr. MacmillanIt is due to the desire that, when the statement is made, it should be one satisfactory to the hon. Gentleman.
§ 15. Mr. Morleyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a grant to the Southampton Borough Council for the purpose of beautifying the city during the Coronation week to welcome visitors from the United States of America and other visitors
§ Mr. H. MacmillanI have no power to make such a grant.
§ 16. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the fact that numbers of foreign visitors will land at Southampton during the Coronation period, he will give special help in the reconstruction of the centre of this bombed town.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanI am very ready to take into account all the needs and circumstances of Southampton and of the other blitzed towns, but as I have stated I am not yet in a position to make any announcement about the programme for 1953.
§ Dr. KingIn view of the recent discussions in another place on the damage done to Southampton during the war, is the Minister aware that Southampton is not ashamed of its war scars and does not mind Coronation visitors seeing them, but that it would be a shame to let foreigners see the neglect of the reconstruction of Southampton by the British people, and that if he wants to do good to the Coronation he will persuade his friends who would not answer this question to do something along those lines?
§ Mr. MacmillanI agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I know his interest in this matter. War scars of a city, like the wounds of a soldier, are things of which to be proud, but if the hon. Gentleman is throwing discredit on the little that has been done, he must carry five-sixths of that burden.
§ Sir J. LucasWill the Minister give equal consideration to the city of Portsmouth?
§ Mr. MorleyWhen a soldier is wounded in the course of war, is not an effort made to heal those wounds? Why does the Minister delay so long in attempting to heal the war scars of Southampton?
§ Mr. MacmillanI have been responsible for one year out of the six, and in that year for which I have been responsible over £1 million more work has been done in the blitzed cities than in any other year.