§ 29. Mr. McEnteeasked the Home Secretary the total cost, including land, building, furniture, and equipment, of the new police section house at Putney and, separately, the cost per cubic foot of the building; how many men the building is to accommodate; whether it is proposed to build other similar section houses and how many in the Metropolitan area; and how long it is estimated to take before similar provision is made for all unmarried men in the Metropolitan Police Force?
§ Sir S. HoareThe total cost is estimated at just under £90,000, and the cost per cubic foot at 2s. 2d. The building will accommodate 101 single men and also contains a garage, offices, married quarters and rooms allocated for the use of non-resident officers. It is proposed to build some 30 other new section houses of various sizes, and to reconstruct about 20 existing section houses in the course of the next seven or eight years. It is impossible to forecast the number of single men in the force some years ahead, and the programme may need modification in its later stages but, so far as can now be foreseen, it will, when complete, meet all the requirements for provided accommodation for single men.
§ Mr. McEnteeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cost of this building is excessively high per unit accommodated and per cubic foot as compared with places like town halls and public buildings generally, and will he take steps to prevent the literal waste of public money which is indicated in the cost of this building?
§ Sir S. HoareThe hon. Member will agree, I am sure, that it is important to have good housing accommodation for the police, but I am quite ready in dealing with future building schemes to look into the experience we have gained in this scheme.