§ 40. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the First Commissioner of Works if he will state at what date the Office of Works warehouse, Southwark Bridge Road, London, S.E.1, is to be removed to Park Royal, Willesden; how many porters and packers will lose their employment in consequence of the removal unless they accept employment at Willesden; what increase in travelling time and in travelling expenses will be caused by the removal; whether it is proposed to refund the increase in travelling expenses until such time as the men are able to obtain houses at Willesden; and, if not, whether arrange- 272 ments to transport daily the men from some central point in London to Willesden and back can be made?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is expected that the removal of the Stores to Park Royal will commence on the 25th April. The present staff of porter-packers numbers 60, and the new organisation will probably result in a decrease of five or six men. Employment will be available for the remainder if they wish to avail themselves of it. I understand that in some cases the additional cost of travelling will amount to 9d. a day, but I have no information as to the increased travelling time which will be involved. It is impossible to authorise any payments for travelling expenses from public funds, and the difficulties in the way of providing special transport for the purpose of conveying the staff to Park Royal make that proposition impracticable.
§ Mr. DAVIESIs there no possibility of the right hon. Gentleman inquiring further into this subject, in view of the cost of travelling in this case?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAny removal, in the interests of efficiency and economy, of a warehouse like this from one site to another, inevitably involves some hardship to the people who have made their homes near the first site. I fully recognise that; but, if I once started paying travelling allowances to people in the London area for getting to their work, there would be no end to it.