§ 35. Mr. McEnteeasked the Home Secretary where the four new section houses to be taken into occupation during 1938, in addition to the one at Putney, are situated; will he state the total number of unmarried men that will be accommodated in these five section houses; and what will be the total cost of land, buildings, furniture and equipment?
§ Sir S. HoareThe four section houses which it is hoped to take into occupation in 1938 are situated at Compton Place, W.C.1, Kennington Lane, S.E.11, Crawford Place, W.1, and Shadwell, E.1. The total number of unmarried men to be accommodated in these section houses and that at Putney is 664 and the total cost of land, buildings, furniture, and equipment is estimated at £482,464.
§ 36. Mr. McEnteeasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the most modem blocks of workmen's flats are being built by local authorities in London at 1s. 7d. to 1s. 8d. per foot cube; that first-class residential flats in London are costing from 1s. 9d. to 2S. 3d. per foot cube; that blocks of flats for married police officers cost 1s. 7d. per foot cube and that new section houses for unmarried police officers at Putney, Judd Street, and Kennington Lane cost, respectively, 2s. 2d., 2s. 4.55d., and 2s. 5.92d. per foot cube; and will he cause inquiry to be made as to the excessive cost of the section houses?
§ Sir S HoareThe accommodation provided in a section house includes much that is not provided and is unnecessary in married quarters, such as common and recreation rooms, gymnasia, canteens, etc. Much of the general accommodation in a section house is for the use not merely of the residents but for all the local police. Moreover, as regards the three section houses mentioned, account must be taken of the recent increase in building costs which was reflected in the tenders for these schemes. If account is taken of all the factors there is no reason for regarding the cost of the section houses in question as excessive.
§ Mr. McEnteeIn view of the fact that all the figures in my question are very recent, how can the right hon. Gentleman account for the very serious difference, and will he consider, as a matter of economy, having these young men boarded out at first-class West End hotels?