HOUSING FOR SQUATTERS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 7

HOUSING FOR SQUATTERS

Demand By Trade Unions STATEMENT BY MINISTER (NX. Press Association—Copyright) A _ x LONDON, Sept 18. representing more than 600,000 unionists called on the Minister of Health (Mr Aneurin Bevan) to-day to ask that squatters should be permitted to remain in the places they at present occupied, or that they should be provided with other accommodation. Mr Beyan said that he would refuse to permit the squatters to remain as their presence was illegal. He told the delegation that for some time he had been urging the Westminster. Marylebone, and Kensington Counycils to take m 2£ e v j£°rous action in rehousing. -The( leader of the deputation said, after the meeting, that he was confident that there would be changes in the ha ” dll^ g of . the housing situation. Mr Bevan has promised greater pressure on building trade black-market-eers and a closer scrutiny of licences issued for repairs. Mr Bevan told the deputation that local authorities in London held 57,000 requisitioned properties, accommodating 91,000 families, which meant that one in every 30 London families was living in requistioned property. Mr Bevan said that 100,000 people had been provided with homes in the London region during the last 16 months as a result of repairs to war damaged houses, the conversion of large houses, house requisition, and the erection of temporary huts. He estimated that accommodation for nearly 100.000 more people would be made available by the end of December.

Mr Bevan to-morrow will address a conference of building trade operatives, which he has called in order to discuss plans for a new housing drive. All the squatters from Abbey Lodge evacuated the building this morning. Thirty drove off in taxis and cars with pltes of bedding. While the squatters made homeless by the Courrs order are awaiting homes, the Government • and -the London County Council have arranged to accommodate them temporarily m rest centres used during the war for blitzed families. It is estimated that toere are 1500 squatters involved. “The owners of a block of luxury flats in Chelsea have taken out at Lloyd s Britain’s first policy against sq^,tte £?ZL says the “Evening Standard. “The flats have just been renovated and there will be an interval before the tenants move in. The policy, which cost £75, will cover for three months up to £5OOO damage and loss of rent. Only one underwriter tion »P entertain the proposi-