HC Deb 20 December 1946 vol 431 cc469-70W
Mr. Sharp

asked the Minister of Works if he will give a schedule of the requisitioned accommodation in Great Britain held by his Department on 30th September, 1946, or at any other more convenient or later date, showing the number of schools and educational establishments, hotels, houses and small flats, offices, factories and other property and the area of requisitional storage space; and what reduction he anticipates by 31st December, 1946, and 30th June, 1947, respectively.

Mr. Tomlinson

The number of requisitioned properties held by my Department on 30th September, 1946 (including factories but excluding other accommodation used for storage purposes) was as follows:

Houses (12 rooms or less) 958
Inexpensive flats 915
Educational Establishments 46
Expensive flats 621
Hotels, Restaurants, Guest and Boarding Houses, Hostels and Holiday Camps 247
Offices 1,907
Shops and Departmental Stores 1,089
Institutions 36
Welfare, Social Service and Religious Worship premises 232
Houses (over 12 rooms) 1,475
Political and Social Clubs 65
Playing Fields and Sports Clubs 115
Entertainment: Theatres. Cinemas, Racecourses, etc. 168
Miscellaneous 802
Local Authority Public Utility, Rail way, Dock and Canal, Authority premises 385
Factories, including industrial accommodation such as garages 671
9,732

The area of requisitioned covered storage space held on 30th September, 1946, was 16,982,060 square feet. It is not possible to give an estimate of the reductions in the number of premises on the dates stated but it is probable that the following reductions in certain premises of high priority for release will be affected:

Reductions By 31st December, 1946. By 31st March, 1947.
Small Houses 123 174
Small flats 230 250
Educational Establishments 6 11
Hotels 50 78

As regards storage space, it is anticipated that there will be a reduction of 3,500,000 square feet approximately by 31st December, 1946, and a further 3,300,000 square feet approximately by 30th June, 1947. After the latter date the storage space remaining under requisition will consist almost exclusively of miscellaneous premises ranking low in priority of release.