Soldiers' Families (Accommodation)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 2 December 1947.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr John Morrison Mr John Morrison , Salisbury 12:00, 2 December 1947

Because I represent a large area of Salisbury Plain, I am grateful to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Charles Smith) for raising this subject. It does affect a great number of families of long-serving soldiers in Salisbury Plain area, many of whom are under notice to quit. I hope that the Under-Secretary will appreciate the real hardship caused to many of these families. They are in great distress at the present time. We understand, as has been said by the hon. Member for Colchester, there are some 15,000 married quarters, of which only 10,000 are occupied. If the Secretary of State examines the situation in the Salisbury Plain area, he will find a great amount of its barrack space is empty. It could be made available for soldiers' families if money is secured for the expenditure. In the nation's interest, it seems to me much more sensible, when labour and building materials are in short supply, that this should be done rather than we should wait for a long-term building programme. I do hope the Secretary of State will investigate this point, and I would ask the Minister to answer the letters about many families who are in great distress which have not been answered up till now.