§ 13. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade what staff is employed by the Petrol Control Board of his Department; what premises they occupy; and what the cost of the Board has been for last year and the estimated cost for this year?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe number of the staff now employed by the Petrol Control Department is 341. The premises occupied are No. 19, Berkeley Street, the ground floor and basement of Nos. 18 and 20, Berkeley Street, and a portion of 38, Dover Street, but the ground floor and basement of No. 18, Berkeley Street are about to be vacated. The cost of the Department (including accommodation) in 1918, was about £54,000, and the present expenditure is at the rate of about £42,000 a year.
§ Sir H. CRAIKWould it not be possible to obtain premises in some place where the rent would be much less than in Dover Street?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is not a question of obtaining them now, and of course if there was any question of obtaining them for any length of time that would be taken into account.