§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will, as a matter of urgency, in conjunction with the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark. Islington and Camden, make available the facilities of the civil defence bunkers at Clapham common, Clapham north, Clapham south and Stockwell under-ground stations for the immediate shelter of the homeless in inner city London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenI have been asked to reply.
These facilities are the so-called deep tube shelters at Clapham Common, Clapham North, Clapham South and Stockwell. Those at Clapham South and Stockwell have been let commercially for storage purposes on long leases and are not therefore available. Those at Clapham North and Clapham Common are disused and are not in a fit state for habitation.
The Property Services Agency would be ready to consider an approach from a local housing authority, or other appropriate housing agency, regarding the feasibility of adaption and the possibility of leasing such facilities to them for such purposes.
Non-metropolitan County District (ranked by percentage reduction) Electorate 1981–86 reduction 1981 Register 1986 Register Decrease in electorate Percentage decrease Shepway 67,607 64,945 -2,662 -3.9 Kingston upon Hull 206,574 201,345 -5,229 -2.5 Pendle 65,659 64,562 -1,097 -1.7 Scunthorpe 48,820 48,192 -628 -1.3 Middlesbrough 109,649 108,263 -1,386 -1.3 Epsom and Ewell 51,693 51,040 -653 -1.3 Brighton 121,311 120,120 -1,191 -1.0 Burnley 67,590 67,125 -465 -0.7 Easington 77,065 76,598 -467 -0.6 Blackburn 103,565 102,998 -567 -0.5 Bristol 307,089 305,920 -1,169 -0.4 Derwentside 68,956 68,719 -237 -0.3 Stoke-on-Trent 196,300 195,678 -622 -0.3 Sedgefield 69,604 69,400 -204 -0.3 Southampton 159,464 159,131 -333 -0.2 Preston 94,891 94,847 -44 0.0 Wansbeck 48,254 48,247 -7 0.0