HC Deb 08 December 1943 vol 395 cc961-2
40. Mr. McKinlay

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works why material and labour were made available for the repair of fire damage at the Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, premises of Messrs. Woolworth?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Hicks)

Part of the ground floor had been requisitioned and restored to provide accommodation for the Ministry of Food. When the promises were vacated by the Ministry of Food that part of the ground floor which had been restored became available for use by the company. The first floor of the building remained in use as a café. The local authority required the company to carry out safety works for the protection of the public, including the provision of emergency exits, and a licence was issued for work estimated to cost £450, being the minimum amount necessary to cover essential work only.

Mr. McKinlay

Are we to take it that the answer is that the premises were restored at the instigation of the Ministry of Food for their use? If that is the answer, it is not true.

Mr. Hicks

What I told my hon. Friend was that the premises had been requisitioned by my Department for the Ministry of Food for the issue of rationing cards, and for several months they were in possession. Then the premises became available to the company.

Mr. McKinlay

Is my hon. Friend aware that I was mainly responsible for the requisitioning of the place for the issue of cards, and it is not true to say that the premises were restored for that purpose. They were used in the condition they were in.

Mr. Hicks

I have given the hon. Member the information in my possession.