§ Mr. Martinasked the Minister of Health what are the Government's winter plans for dealing with the London housing problem.
§ Mr. WillinkThe Government have already taken action on a considerable scale to improve housing conditions in the London region, which war damage has made so serious. To-day and tomorrow I am sending circulars to the local authorities concerned setting out the further steps which, on the recommendation of Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve, the Government are taking immediately. I780W am sending copies to my hon. Friend and placing copies in the Library.
Briefly, these new arrangements, which have been discussed with and generally agreed by, the local authorities and the other interests concerned, are:
Supplementary action includes the requisitioning and adaptation of existing dwellings and the provision by the Government of temporary huts.
- (i) the concentration on the repair of war damage and esential work of all building labour at present employed in London. This is to be done, under Defence Regulation 56A, by reducing from £100, to £10 the licensing limit for all building and maintenance work in the London Civil Defence Region;
- (ii) the transfer to London from the provinces of building workers, particularly those whose homes are in London;
- (iii) the provision of accommodation and welfare services for the incoming workers whose homes are in the provinces; and
- (iv) the manufacture of the necessary additional materials.