HC Deb 08 August 1940 vol 364 c442W
Mr. R. Morgan

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, his reasons for dispossessing tenants, under onerous conditions, from flats occupied by them in London for the purpose of housing Gibraltar refugees; and whether some different policy can be adopted to avoid unnecessary interference with family life when there are many empty houses available?

Mr. Mabane

In order to make satisfactory arrangements for the accommodation and care of these refugees, it was necessary to house them in comparatively large units, which makes the use of empty houses for the purpose impracticable. Although the number of refugees approximates to 11,000, it has, up to the present, been found necessary to displace only 23 occupants from blocks of flats. The inconvenience to the dispossessed occupants is very much regretted, but they will be entitled to statutory compensation.