§ 79. Major BOYD-CARPENTERasked the Under-Secretary to the Air Ministry what is the present amount paid for No. 4, Thurloe Place; what is the amount of ground rent for these premises; with whom the rent has been arranged; and who was the owner at the time of the arrangement?
§ Major-General SEELYThe rate of compensation paid for the occupation of 4, Thurloe Place, is £2,520 per annum.
1026 The ground rent is £2,295. The rate of compensation was settled by the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission, the legal owner at the time of the arrangement being a Controller appointed by the Board of Trade to wind up the business of the Continental Tyre Company, Limited.
§ 80. Major BOYD-CARPENTERasked what is the number of officers comprising the staff known as the South-Eastern area; what necessity there is in accommodating them in such premises as No. 4, Thurloe Place; whether they could not be accommodated at Kenley or Hounslow in huts, thus saving public money; and whether any attempt was made to so accommodate them?
§ Major-General SEELYThe present number of officers engaged at Thurloe Place is eighty-one, the number of other ranks and of clerical staff being 288. The possibility of these headquarters being located out of London was fully considered, but it was decided that the administrative disadvantages which would follow were too great to allow of that course being adopted. A large amount of public money has been saved by the move from Covent Garden Hotel, etc., to Thurloe Place.
§ Major LANE-FOXWhy is it necessary that the Air Force should take larger premises than they occupied before?
§ Major-General SEELYI am advised that that is not the case. There are fewer persons employed, and the total premises now occupied are smaller than those occupied before.
§ Major LANE-FOXIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in answer to a question which I asked, I was told that the premises—the number of square feet—were considerably larger than the other premises?
§ Major-General SEELYI think not. They would be larger than the Covent Garden Hotel, but there were other places occupied by the some organisation now at Thurloe Place.
Sir H. DALZIELCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many rooms were occupied at the Covent Garden Hotel?
§ Major-General SEELYIt was before my time, but I will find out.
§ 81. Major BOYD-CARPENTERasked the Under-Secretary to the Air Ministry 1027 if he is aware that when the tender for the purchase of 4, Thurloe Place was submitted it contained a specific statement as to the requirements for which it was being purchased and that, under Government authority, the tender was. accepted without any objection as to these requirements?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. I am informed that when the tender for the purchase of Nos. 1 to 4, Thurloe Place, was submitted a statement was made that the property might possibly be utilised for the purpose of letting flats. As the conditions under which the premises were then occupied were known to the would-be purchaser, the tender was accepted without any objection as to these requirements.
§ Sir R. COOPERIs it not very unjust for the Government to allow a sale like this to go through, knowing the precise conditions under which it was being purchased, and then when it was completed to turn round and take the premises out of the hands of the purchaser?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe purchaser knew the conditions.
§ Sir R. COOPERSo did the Government.
§ Major LANE-FOXIs it not a fact that the owner of the premises stated that before the premises were taken for this purpose notification would be sent, and that no notification was sent?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot answer that offhand. I will try to find out, if the hon. Gentleman will tell me who it was that promised to give notification.
§ Major LANE-FOXIt was an official of the hon. Gentleman's Department.