§ 36 and 37. Major Sir Jocelyn Lucasasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether his attention has been called to vacant hotels in Piccadilly and elsewhere in London; and whether he will consider taking these over as hostels for officers or troops generally;
(2) whether he is aware of the serious shortage of accommodation for officers in London, particularly on Saturday nights; and whether there is any central authority to whom officers who are stranded can telephone for information as to vacant accommodation?
§ Captain MargessonAll suitable available accommodation in the Central London area is being surveyed at the present time in connection with a considerable expansion, recently authorised, of the scheme for provision of hostel accommodation for troops stranded in London. The provision at public expense of hostels for officers in London is not contemplated. So far as it is possible to have up-to-date information at one place, the various information bureaux, set up in connection with Army Welfare, are always ready to help officers, and a notice to this effect is posted in all canteens and at the offices of Railway Transport Officers.