HC Deb 17 December 1943 vol 395 cc1817-9W
Colonel Rayner

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much financial assistance has been given to those whose livelihoods and homes have been disturbed by the militarily-enforced evacuation of a South-western area?

Mr. Alexander

So far, few final claims have been received from those who have had to evacuate from the South-West area, but 129 requests for monetary advances in respect of compensation due have been received and in each case payment has been made. The Admiralty has a cashier on the spot and anyone properly entitled can obtain on request advances on account or final settlements up to £20 in cash or larger amounts by cheque within 34 days.

Colonel Rayner

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for tradesmen dispossessed from the South-western area which has been evacuated to make room for troops to be enabled, without licence, to establish themselves elsewhere should they so desire it with the preferential option of returning at the earliest moment to the places from which they have had to leave?

Mr. Dalton

I will ask the licensing committees concerned to give sympathetic consideration to any applications for licences under the Location of Retail Businesses Order received from non-food retailers moved from the area to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. Licences will also be granted to any of these retailers who wish to re-establish themselves in their former businesses when the ban is removed. My area distribution officers have, in the past few weeks, personally visited all these traders, and, so far as can be at present ascertained, only one has definitely decided to re-open his business elsewhere. These traders have also been advised of the facilities for registering on the Board of Trade register of withdrawing traders.

Colonel Rayner

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will guarantee that those agricultural workers who have been forced to leave their homes and livelihoods in a South-western area cleared for Army training purposes will have a prior claim after the war to the occupation of any new houses which may then be built in the evacuated area concerned?

Mr. Hudson

I am not in a position to give a guarantee of the nature indicated, but if my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind houses built by local authorities he should approach the Minister of Health.

Colonel Rayner

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make any statement on the numbers of old people who have been evacuated from the militarily occupied area in the South-western district; what procedure has been adopted to care for them; and whether they will have the right to be brought back at a later date to the places they are now leaving?

Mr. Willink

My Department with the assistance of the rural district council have been concerned with the question of alternative accommodation for the dispossessed persons. By the beginning of this week alternative accommodation had been arranged in all but seven cases. I am obtaining details of the aged persons concerned and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend. As regards the last part of the Question I would refer him to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty do 8th December to a Question by the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Frankel).

Colonel Rayner

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that farmers in the South western area, which has been evacuated to make room for troops, are dispossessed at the time when they are hoping to make money to meet their annual liabilities, he will grant assistance in all such cases?

Sir J. Anderson

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 8th December by the First Lord of the Admiralty to the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Frankel). [OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 395, col. 947–8.]