HC Deb 03 February 1947 vol 432 cc291-2W
106. Brigadier Low

asked the Minister of Works if he will issue an up-to-date statement applicable to the Parliamentary Division of North Blackpool, showing how many buildings by type, whether private or public hotel or private house, and the floorspace, are now under requisition to his Department and other Government Departments, specifying each Department separately; and whether he will indicate the Government's plans for derequisitioning these buildings.

Mr. Tomlinson

My Department holds 27 hotels and boarding houses in the Parliamentary Division of North Blackpool, with a total floor space of 497,000 square ft. and one private house with a floor space of 1,200 square ft. No other Government Department holds hotels or houses in the area, but the local authority holds premises on requisition for housing purposes. I anticipate that the majority of the hotels held by my Department will be released during the, course of the year on transfer elsewhere of the Government staff in occupation, leaving only two or three large hotels and four small hotels under requisition in 1948. The house is occupied as a residence by a divisional officer of the National Fire Service and all attempts to secure other accommodation for him have so far failed.