§ 91. Lieut.-Colonel CAMPIONasked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office is occupying a building and site, exceeding an acre in extent, in St. Giles-in-the-Fields, in the centre of London, for the storage of motor equipment, at a rental of £4,000 a year; whether a suitable site for such a purpose could be found in a less expensive locality; and whether he is aware that this site is urgently required by the new owners for a, great commercial undertaking, and that the inability to obtain possession is preventing the company that owns it from employing a large number of discharged officers and men?
Captain GUESTThe site in question is occupied by the Home Mechanical Transport Depot. Every endeavour has been made to secure alternative accommodation elsewhere in the country for this unit, but, owing to the large amount of space required and the dearth of unoccupied buildings, this has, so far, proved impracticable. Negotiations are now proceeding for the acquisition of a particular building, and, if these are successful, steps will be immediately taken to vacate the site in St. Giles-in-the-Fields.