§ Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the requisitioning of houses in the Dusseldorf area has been resumed and how many houses have been taken over from the civilian population since 1st September, 1947.
§ Mr. BevinIn view of the large number of Service and Control Office for Germany families awaiting married quarters in the Dusseldorf area, many of which had suffered long separation during and after the war, the Regional Commissioner in June last, with the full approval of the German authorities, agreed to the requisitioning of a maximum of 150 houses in the neighbourhood of Dusseldorf during70W the summer and autumn, to avoid eviction of Germans during the winter months. The majority of these houses have now been requisitioned and the waiting list for married quarters in this area has fallen to manageable proportions.
§ Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in the district of Lohausen, Dusseldorf, houses numbered 35, 37, 40, 42, 44 and 46 Bockoltstrasse, were requisitioned early this year and have remained empty to this date; and whether he will now take steps to have them returned to their owners.
§ Mr. BevinNo. The facts in my possession differ from those stated in the Question. The explanation is as follows: No. 35 Bockoltstrasse was requisitioned in February, 1946, the other houses in July, 1945. All these houses were fully occupied by Army units from the time they were requisitioned until July, 1947. No. 35 was empty from July, 1947, until early in October while undergoing repairs; it is now occupied by a British family. No. 37 is still undergoing repairs; on their completion it will be occupied as a military officers' mess. No. 40 was occupied by an Army Postal Unit in September, when the necessary works were completed. No. 42 was empty during repairs and is now occupied by a British family. No. 44 has been occupied by a British family since August; No. 46 will also be so occupied as soon as repairs have been completed. The delay in making these houses ready for their new occupants is due solely to the acute shortage of raw materials and labour.