§ 20. Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that civilians who have returned to work in Malaya, accompanied in many cases by their wives and children, are finding it difficult to get accommodation owing to the fact that military personnel are occupying so many of their houses; and if he will draw the attention of the military authorities to this grievance and press them to provide alternative accommodation for their own personnel so that civilian dwellings may be handed back to their rightful occupiers at the earliest possible date.
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§ Mr. George HallAll the authorities concerned, both civil and military, are fully alive to these difficulties and to the need for the earliest possible return of private housing in Malaya to its normal purposes. Much has already been done to that end. In Singapore, for example, 45 per cent. of the premises occupied by the Services at the beginning of February had been released by the end of June. Within the last few days additional schemes for providing new temporary accommodation for the troops have been approved and in consequence the release of housing should be further speeded up during the autumn months.