§ 69. Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an unlicensed house known as the Skittles Inn, Letchworth, has recently been commandeered by the Army Council; whether he can, consistently with the public interest, say for what purpose these premises are required; whether they are the only premises in the nature of a public house in Letchworth, and are much used for meals and for meetings of friendly societies and trade unions, and so forth; and whether his attention has been called to the protests that have been made in Letchworth against the taking of these premises, seeing that there are no other premises available in Letchworth for the purposes hitherto served by the Skittles Inn, and that a number of licensed houses within a few miles radius have not been interfered with?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis inn was taken over by the War Office at the request of the Aeronautical Supplies Department, to provide accommodation for certain workpeople which it had been found impossible to obtain otherwise. Various protests against the taking over of the inn have been received, and are at present being considered.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the inhabitants state that other accommodation is available?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll these relevant facts will be taken into consideration now.