§ 55. Mr. Mainwaringasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any system of supervision exists over billets and the meals supplied to members of the Civil Service billeted throughout the country; and whether he has investigated the widespread discontent among members of the Service?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)The 1798 billeting of evacuated civil servants is in the charge of departmental billeting officers at each reception town. These officers are responsible for obtaining billets, in the first place, and thereafter exercise a general supervision over all billeting matters in their areas. I am satisfied, from recent inquiries, that the general situation is satisfactory. Individual cases of difficulty are bound to arise from time to time, but are effectively dealt with by the machinery provided. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that any widespread discontent exists.
§ Mr. MainwaringIs the Financial Secretary aware that in many cases premises in which members of the Civil Service are billeted are being taken over as furnished houses, and that the weekly cost of the tenancy has to be recovered before these people can feed the civil servants?
§ Captain CrookshankThat seems to be another question. I would like to see it on the Paper.