§ Mr. Dobbieasked the Minister of Health the maximum period for which a billeting allowance is paid when people have had their home destroyed by enemy action and are unable to obtain alternative housing accommodation?
§ Mr. E. BrownThere is no maximum period for which a billeting allowance may be paid when people have had their home destroyed by enemy action. The payment of billeting allowances in respect of homeless people is intended normally to be a temporary measure, operating only until they are able to return home, or to obtain accommodation on their own, or to make their own financial arrangements with their hosts. They are now normally issued for an initial period of two weeks but this period is extended where, having regard to the difficulty in obtaining accommodation in the neighbourhood or for any other reason, the effect of the withdrawal of the billeting notice would be that the person billeted would be evicted or charged more than he could afford.