§ 67. Mr. HIGHAMasked the First Commissioner of Works if he will reconsider his decision in regard to retaining, for a period of two years or longer, the premises in Kingsway now occupied by Aircraft Departments of His Majesty's Government; and whether, in view of the high rental of these premises, he will consider housing the Departments mentioned in hutments in the outlying areas of London and thus decidedly reduce the cost to the public of housing these Departments?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Sir A. Mond)The decision of the War Cabinet Committee on Accommodation to warn the Kingsway tenants of the necessity for retaining the premises requisitioned by the Government in Kings-way for a period of two years, or possibly longer, was arrived at after the fullest consideration of all the facts. The following important public Departments are or are about to be housed in these premises, namely, the Air Ministry, the Commission International de Ravitaillement and the Inland Revenue Department, Super-tax Commissioners and Repayment Branch. The Aircraft Production Department now forms part of the Air Ministry, and I am informed by the latter that it is important that the Aircraft Production Department should carry out its work in close co-operation with the Ministry at the present time.