§ 74. Mr. R. MCNEILLasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether his statement that no change is contemplated as regards the arrangements of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in Belfast signifies that the Grand Central Hotel is to be continued in use as a hostel for the corps; and, if so, why a notice was given on the 21st May to the proprietor by the military authorities that it is intended to give up possession of the Grand Central Hotel at a very early date?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, in view of a general reduction of accommodation required for this service, it was thought that it might be necessary to relinquish the accommodation of the Grand Central Hotel, and the proprietors were warned accordingly, but it was subsequently decided not to abandon the use of the hotel.
§ Mr. McNEILLWas the latter decision arrived at after I gave notice of this question?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI do not think so.
§ Brigadier-General McCALMONTIs it not a fact that this hotel was taken over in mistake for an hotel of the same name in an English town?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe answer is in the affirmative.
§ 75. Mr. MCNEILLasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that the notice given by the military authorities to the proprietors of the Grand Central Hotel in. Belfast requisitioning the hotel, a building containing 200 bedrooms, for a hostel for the use of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, allowed insufficient time for the furniture to be properly catalogued and advertised for sale by auction; whether he is aware that the entire contents of the hotel were in fact cleared out and sold for a sum less by £5,682 than the value as certified by Dublin and Belfast valuers, and that the military authorities reserved a certain portion of the furniture, but instead of using it for the hostel eventually included it in the general sale; whether the claim of the hotel proprietor has yet been settled; and if he will say what was the total loss involved in the transaction by the Government?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI understand that the proprietors of the hotel were allowed to fix a date which they considered would give them sufficient time to transfer the furniture, and I am informed that it was catalogued and advertised a month before the auction took place. I am not aware of the loss, if any, on the sale of the furniture, but am informed that the prices obtained were considered very good. The military authorities did negotiate with the owners for the purchase of certain 39 articles, but these were eventually included in the sale. A claim has been made by the proprietors to the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission, which is the body set up to deal with all claims for compensation in such cases.
§ Mr. McNEILLBy whom were the prices considered to be good, and, as the right hon. Gentleman has no knowledge of the loss, will he accept the figure I give of the actual loss according to the valuation?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe whole of that will be considered when the claim, which has, I understand, just been presented, is before the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission.
§ Mr. McNEILLWill not compensation, when paid, actually in the end be paid by the Treasury?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThat is a matter which will also be considered by the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission.