80. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that great difficulty is experienced by soldiers passing through London, to and from leave or were in course of being demobilised, in obtaining comfortable accommodation; if he will state what are the facilities which exist in this respect, and what steps are taken to acquaint the men and the units to which they belong of the arrangements?
§ Mr. FORSTERI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 12th March to a similar question put by the hon. Member for East Islington. 592 Ample and comfortable accommodation for all ranks passing through London is provided by the military authorities, in conjunction with voluntary organisations. This accommodation consists of clubs and hostels, where officers and men are provided with bed and breakfast. Notices are posted at all the large railway stations throughout Great Britain and Ireland, informing all concerned of the existence of this accommodation.
In addition to notices at all London railway termini there are guides, who give their services voluntarily, to direct soldiers to the hostels and inform them of their existence. Motor transport to convey the men to the accommodation is also provided by both voluntary agencies and the War Department. A central bureau co-ordinates the allotment of parties to the various hostels. The largest number of soldiers who have been accommodated on any one night is 17,000.
If my hon. and gallant Friend, or any other Members of the House who are interested in this subject, would like to see something of what is being done, I would invite them to pay a visit to the Buckingham Palace Hotel, which is one of the hostels mentioned and is close at hand. They will then obtain a good idea of our efforts in this direction.