§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of the shortage of suitable housing accommodation in Barrow-in-Furness for the munition workers; whether, in view of the influx of women workers into the town, he will consider what steps can be taken to provide adequate housing accommodation.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of the shortage of housing accommodation at Barrow-in-Furness owing to the influx of fresh workers into the town; whether he is aware that numbers of workpeople are still arriving, thus accentuating the present difficulty; and whether he proposes to take such action as will relieve the present pressure by undertaking the building of housing accommodation on such a scale as is commensurate with the continuous development in the town's population?
Mr. PRIMROSEI have had this matter under consideration. Under an arrangement between the Ministry and Messrs. Vickers, a number of permanent houses are being built. The Ministry has also taken steps to adapt some existing buildings to provide further accommodation for women workers. Some of this accommodation should shortly be ready. The Ministry is making a further local investigation into the problem, and I am also having inquiries made into allegations that the rents charged for lodgings in Barrow are excessive in many cases.