§ Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Minister of Health what has been the response to his Share-your-homes appeal.
§ Mr. BevanI could only estimate the response to this appeal by asking local authorities for information, and I am anxious not to ask them for more returns than are essential. Nor could they estimate at all accurately since a part of the response has been by private arrangement. All I can say is that local authorities have co-operated well in giving wide publicity to the appeal.
Mr. Amoryasked the Minister of Health whether, in viewof the fact that his Department has as yet no plans for the requisitioning of rooms in private houses, he will withdraw his instruction that: in certain cases compulsory powers should be used for this purpose.
§ Mr. BevanI do not intend to exercise my compulsory powers unless the voluntary appeal fails to produce the results. I have said that any case of. the kind in which a local authority consider that requisitioning powers must be used should be referred to the Ministry. If such a case is so referred it will be considered on its merits.