§ 49. Mr. William Brownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the great difficulty being experienced by civil servants returning to London, after a period of evacuation in the country, in obtaining accommodation within their means in the London area, he will authorise either an improvement in the subsistence rates allowed to them or, alternatively, the provision of hostel accommodation?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir Kingsley Wood)The subsistence rates to which my hon. Friend refers were recently agreed with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council. Arrangements have also been made for certain of the staff to be accommodated in hostels. In these circumstances I do not consider that any further steps are necessary.
§ Mr. BrownDoes not the Minister realise that what the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council agreed to is the best they can extract from the right hon. Gentleman, and that if the best is not as good as they might have expected, ought not something to be done?
§ Sir K. WoodNo, Sir, I could not accept that description of the views of the Staff Side.