26. Captain TERRELLasked the First Commissioner of Works how many private houses above £75 annual rental are still occupied by ally of the Government 1659 Departments; will he allocate these houses among the different Departments using them; and how many have been released since the Armistice?
§ Mr. PARKERThe number of such houses in the London area under the charge of my Department is 138, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a statement showing how these houses are allocated amongst the Departments in question. The number of houses released since the Armistice is 31. I regret I am not in a position to give the corresponding numbers for the provinces, as a considerable amount of research, the cost of which could scarcely be justified, would be required.
Captain TERRELLWould the hon. Gentleman state the reasons why only thirty-one private houses have been re-released since the Armistice, nearly twelve months ago?
§ Mr. PARKERI will draw the attention of ray right hon. Friend to the matter.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHAre private houses in Government occupation in Ireland under the control of the Department of the hon. Member?
§ Mr. PARKERI am not aware.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHNobody knows.
41. Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Health whether his attention had been called to the very large number of private houses still occupied by Government Departments all over the country; and what steps he was taking to bring about their return to their proper uses, especially in view of the universal shortage of housing accommodation'?
§ Mr. PARKERI am not aware that there is a material amount of accommodation in the form of private houses occupied by Government Departments, and in the few cases where application has been made for the return of such accommodation to the owners for the purpose of being occupied as private residences, every endeavour is being made to comply with these requests.
Captain TERRELLMay I ask whether the hon. Gentleman heard the answer given to me just now on behalf of the First Commissioner of Works—that is to say, by himself—and will be undertake to get these houses released at once?
§ Mr. PARKERI will refer the point to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the hon. Gentleman call upon the Minister responsible to supply him with a list of all houses in the country that the Government are using, giving the approximate number of rooms and the number of people occupying those rooms, so that he may arrive at an idea as to the possibility of their release?
§ Dr. ADDISONI believe we have already had that list for London. As to the rest of the country I will look into the matter.