§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health whether he has further considered the incidence of empty houses not requisitioned for Civil Defence purposes now existing in some overcrowded London and other areas; whether he will enable local authorities to requisition them for families who urgently need better accommodation for health reasons; and whether he will get local authorities to compile records of those in their areas who are overcrowded to the danger of their health and who should be given prior consideration during the war?
§ Mr. E. BrownAs I have already stated, I have been in consultation with 385W the associations of local authorities on various matters relating to existing housing difficulties. Amongst the questions discussed has been that of the most suitable measures which could be adopted to secure that the best possible use is made of existing housing accommodation in order to alleviate the present unsatisfactory conditions. I am not at the moment in a position to make a statement on this urgent matter, but I hope to be able to do so shortly.