74. Brigadier-General BROWNasked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the extra stabling for horses he is providing at Arborfield Remount Depot, he intends to provide accommodation for the extra employés who will be needed to look after these horses; and whether he is aware of the shortage of houses there for the present employés at the depot?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSAs regards the first part of the question the hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. The horses, for which stabling is being erected at Arborfield Cross, are already there, but the temporary war-time structures in which they are at present accommodated, owing to the loss of accommodation previously existing in Ireland, require replacement. No increase in the number of civilian employés is therefore contemplated. As regards the latter part of the question, the Rural District Council of Wokingham made representations to this effect last November, but the housing of the civilian population is primarily a question for the local civil authorities, nod I regret that I cannot hold out any prospect of providing houses at the expense of Army funds.