§ 24. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a resolution recently passed by the Bradfield Rural District Council as to the shortage of housing accommodation for the rural inhabitants owing to War Office employes at the Army-Ordnance depot at Bramley crowding them out; and whether he will make adequate provision for the housing of all the War Office employés at this depot or make a grant to the council to build houses for these Government employés?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have received a copy of the resolution referred to. But as I explained to my hon. and gallant Friend on 10th March last, the housing of the civilian population is primarily a matter for the local civil authorities, and while Government quarters have been provided at Bramley for certain civilian employés whose duties are of such a nature that they must live in close proximity to their work, I regret that I cannot hold out any prospect of further assistance in this direction from Army Funds.
Brigadier-General BROWNDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider it right that a big Government Department should put the onus of finding houses for their employés on the poor ratepayers of these rural districts, and will he consider making a change in his policy?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIt is a question of which Government Department should interest itself in the matter. I cannot do the work of another Government Department.
§ Major GLYNDid not the Admiralty make arrangements at Devonport?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSYes, and I think it quite possible that at Bramley a somewhat similar arrangement can be made. As the hon. Gentleman knows, a different form of arrangements has been made to help employés.