REQUISITIONED SHOPS AND STORES (Hansard, 18 May 1949)

§ LORD BROUGHSHANE
My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF WORKS (LORD MORRISSON)
My Lords, The total area of shops and departmental stores held on requisition in Kensington is 132,194 square feet. Of this area, 83,000 square feet are in Harrod's and 45,000 square feet in Barker's. The remaining space is in one shop which is about to be derequisitioned. For the rest of London, the total area of shops and departmental stores held on requisition is 952,038 square feet. This total is made up of 288 shops and space in the following nine departmental stores: Peter Jones, John Lewis, Peter Robinson, London Cooperative Stores, Selfridge's, Dickins and Jones, D. H. Evans, Lillywhites, Jones Brothers. A lease, however, is being completed for the Dickins and Jones accommodation.
Many of these shops are used for local office purposes such as Ministry of National Insurance offices, employment exchanges, food offices, and savings centres. Some, in fact, were never previously used having been completed just before the war. Plans are being prepared for the release of these premises, but these will depend in many cases on the completion of new buildings, either 802 temporary or permanent, which are now under construction.
I can assure the noble Lord that every effort is being made to release requisitioned space, including shops and departmental stores, as quickly as possible. Priority in the release of requisitioned premises goes to small houses and inexpensive flats, but wherever possible special consideration is also given to the release of premises required by firms engaged in the export trade. Since January 1, 1945, 602 shops in London have been released, in addition to 368,337 square feet of space in departmental stores.

§ LORD BROUGHSHANE
My Lords, arising out of the answer, is the noble Lord aware that at John Barker's, one of the stores to which he referred, four-fifths of the men's department is still requisitioned, at a very heavy loss to the firm? With regard to the John Lewis Partnership, which the noble Lord also mentioned, I am informed that over 90,000 square feet urgently required for business purposes are still requisitioned? Can the noble Lord fell us what further immediate action is being taken in this connection, having regard to the appeal made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to push forward business in every way possible? Not only have these firms had these large areas requisitioned by the Government, but like other traders they have also suffered loss of space by bombing. In view of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's appeal, do the Government not recognise the need to release the premises as soon as possible?

LORD GIFFORD
Has the noble Lord considered that the list of stores he has given—particularly such stores as Harrod's—are just those which are most important for our export sales?

§ LORD MORRISON
My Lords, I have already indicated that priority in the release of requisitioned premises' goes to small houses and inexpensive flats, in accordance with the recommendation for the release of requisitioned property in the Report of the Select Committee on Estimates. The following is a quotation from that Report: Your Committee are of the opinion that the housing of the population should be given priority over all other purposes, and that flats and houses, still used as offices, should be released. 803 Now the noble Lord has mentioned two specific firms that he had in mind, perhaps he will allow me to look into those cases and write to him.

§ LORD BROUGHSHANE
My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord for saying he will look into this point. It is a serious matter when the Chancellor of the Exchequer is appealing to firms such as Harrod's, Barker's and others to push forward the trade of the country, if they have less accommodation than they had before, due not only to loss from bombing but also to requisitioning by the Government.