HC Deb 11 May 1938 vol 335 cc1563-4
27. Commander Bower

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the position, acreage, and cost of the site on which it is proposed to build a new signal school at Portsmouth; from whom this site is being acquired; and for what it has been used in the past?

Mr. Cooper

The site proposed for the new signal school at Portsmouth is situated between the Northern Parade and Portsmouth Harbour and adjoins the North End Recreation Ground. This area is about 40 acres; it belongs to the Corporation of Portsmouth, and, pending development for building purposes, has been used as allotments. The purchase price has not yet been agreed.

Commander Bower

Is it the policy of the Admiralty to build these new establishments close to other bomb targets, and would it not be better if, when they are rebuilding such places as signal schools, they should be built somewhere on the west coast where they are more remote from possible attack?

Mr. Cooper

That is, of course, taken into consideration in deciding upon where to locate these buildings, but we have also to consider the people who live in them and work in them.