§ Colonel Ponsonbyasked the Under secretary of State for Air the approximate number of R.A.F. stations in. this country now evacuated; and whether he is in touch with the Minister of Health with a view to handing over empty stations for temporary accommodation for homeless people.
§ Mr. StracheyThe Royal Air Force has now given up some or all of the living accommodation at 60 stations. This accommodation is offered in the first instance to other Government Departments including the Ministry of Health. In most cases it is taken up to accommodate men of the other two services, since this in turn makes it possible to release private property elsewhere.
§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, in view of the urgent need for accommodation and beds for civilian patients, whether he will consider the repeated representations of the Essex County Council for the derequisitioning of part of their property; and if he will confer immediately with the Minister of Health both respecting the need that exists and the necessity of transferring those premises back to the county council.
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§ Mr. StracheyThe Ministry of Health have made it clear that these premises are needed by the Essex County Council. We are using them for a Despatch Centre which is important for demobilisation. We hope to get some other suitable accommodation back from the American authorities early next year, and should then be able to give up these buildings not later than the end of March.