§ Mr. Mortasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the anomalous position existing in areas where large numbers of the population have to be accommodated in temporary dwellings and houses owing to air raids, as the corporation has power to commandeer vacant premises for the housing of refugees but cannot exercise such power on behalf of the local residents; and will he take immediate steps to remedy this so that empty houses can be used for this purpose?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe powers given to local authorities to requisition accommodation can be and are being used for persons rendered temporarily homeless by air attack whether they are resident in the district or not. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular on the subject which I issued to local authorities on 16th July.