§ 1. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Secretary of State for War whether barrack wardens have been recently informed that they are no longer to occupy married quarters, as they are required for troops; and whether it is the custom for barrack wardens to have Government married quarters, and what steps he is taking in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. T. Shaw)As regards the first part of the question, it was notified, after full consideration, in 1928, on the occasion of a review of their pay and conditions of service, that it was not regarded as essential that barrack wardens should occupy public quarters. As regards the remainder of the question, a certain number of barrack wardens are in occupation of Government quarters. Such occupation is not disturbed unless the shortage of quarters for troops entitled thereto is in the opinion of the General Officer Commanding so acute as to call for the surrender of any quarters occupied by barrack wardens.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEWill the right hon. Gentleman say what action he intends to take in future on this question of barrack wardens' accommodation, and in special reference to the shortage of married quarters at Aldershot and Woolwich?
§ Mr. MUFFWill my right hon. Friend say whether there has been an increase of surrenders during the past year, and whether there were any evictions during the tenure of office of the late Secretary of State for War?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman cannot answer for a former Secretary for War.
§ 2. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the circumstances in which, on the 3rd May last, he instituted proceedings in the Woolwich County Court against Mr. Frederick Sheppard, a barrack warden, for possession of premises at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich; whether he can state the length of service of Mr. Sheppard; and whether, seeing that he gave up private quarters in order to occupy the public quarters that had been allotted to him and is liable to be ordered away at any time to serve in some other station, he proposes, under these circumstances, to evict Mr. Sheppard and his family?
§ Mr. SHAWAs the military quarters in the occupation of this barrack warden, who is a civilian employé, were required for soldiers on the married quarters roll, he was warned in December, 1928, that in another twelve months he would be given notice to vacate public quarters. Formal notice to quit was given in February, 1930, and as he did not vacate the quarters, proceedings were instituted in May of this year to recover possession. Mr. Sheppard's appointment as a barrack warden dates from December, 1924. As regards the last part of the question, the facts stated would not justify me in authorising his continued occupation of public quarters to the exclusion of the military personnel for whom they are required.
§ Sir K. WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this matter came before the county court judge, who was so impressed with the circumstances of this man that he said the Secretary of State ought to consider the matter again? Is he prepared to do so?
§ Mr. SHAWI am not aware of the circumstances stated by the right hon. Gentleman. I have given the answer to the question that he has put, and if he will put another question on the Paper I will give him an answer to that.
§ Sir K. WOODWhat does the right hon. Gentleman propose that this man should do?
§ Mr. SHAWThis man has had 18 months' notice to terminate the occupation of these quarters—notice that was given to him by my predecessor. With the best will in the world, I cannot spend all my time abolishing the decisions of my predecessors.
§ Mr. SHAWThis is no new policy, and, as a matter of fact, the actions taken in the year preceding the present year were 20 per cent. higher than during the present year.
§ Sir K. WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman always going to shelter himself behind the actions of his predecessors?