§ 39. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Minister of Labour whether it has been brought to his attention that at the Pick-worth training camp, Clipsham, Oakham, Rutland, on wet days the men have no change of clothing or any facilities for drying clothes; the ground-sheets allow the water to come through; there are no proper scrapers outside the tents and so they are muddy on wet days; there are about three brushes in the whole camp and only one bucket to five tents for washing; and whether he will see that conditions at the camp are improved?
§ Mr. E. BROWNNo, Sir. The men at this camp, as at other similar camps, are supplied with working boots, trousers, shirts and socks, and, if these become wet, the men can change into their ordinary clothes while drying their wet clothes in the heated drying room provided at each camp or centre. The waterproof capes (to which I understand the hon. Member to refer) in use at the Pick-worth camp are in sound condition. Each 1586 tent and hut has an iron scraper at the entrance. The provision of brushes is adequate for a camp of 150 men (three soft brooms, four mops, four rubber squeegees, 11 deck scrubbers, three bass brooms and 27 scrubbing brushes). The proportion of washing buckets is one bucket to eight men. Conditions at this camp and at all similar camps and centres are under constant review, and my information is that, despite trying weather conditions, the camp is running well and that there have been no complaints.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs not the Minister aware that in all these camps continual complaints are being made about the conditions; and, in view of the tendency of these camps to fall into decay, will he not provide a Government subsidy in order to ensure the best possible conditions?
§ Mr. BROWNI am not aware of anything of the kind, but I am aware that a certain small number of people in this country are deliberately decrying these admirable institutions.
§ Mr. STEPHENWill not the Minister consider closing down these camps and, instead, giving decent unemployment benefit?