HC Deb 12 March 1946 vol 420 cc953-4
81. Mr. Rees-Williams

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the accommodation at the R.A. depot, Woolwich, was condemned some 50 years ago as unfit for the housing of troops; and whether he will now move this depot to one of the new R.A. permanent camps, such as Oswestry.

Mr. Bellenger

I can find no evidence to support the statement that this accommodation was condemned 50 years ago as unfit for the housing of troops. A considerable amount of work to improve the accommodation was, however, carried out between 1925 and 1932. Any modernisation of Army barracks which is still necessary will be undertaken when circumstances permit, but there is not sufficient accommodation available to the Army at present to permit permanent barracks being left empty. Certain elements of the Royal Artillery Depot are already housed outside Woolwich to ensure that the barracks are not over-crowded.

.Mr.Rees-Williams

Is the Financial Secretary aware that, during the war, and probably now, a large number of soldiers were housed in stables at Woolwich, and will he send the Director of Quartering to Woolwich for a week to live in the accommodation, because then he might change his mind?

Mr. Bellenger

I think that that would be most unkind on the Director of Quartering.

Mr. Berry

Is the Financial Secretary aware that the married quarters are absolutely useless and that I have pressed this question on the War Office on a number of occasions to get the matter put right?

Mr. Bellenger

I am not going to deny that accommodation during the war and before the war was not adequate for our troops, but it is our intention at the War Office to alter this as soon as we can do so.

Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite

Is it not the case, so far as the rebuilding of military barracks is concerned, that circumstances never do permit it, because either Service Estimates are being cut to the bone in peacetime, or there is a war on and a shortage of labour?

Mr. Bellenger

Now that we have a change at the War Office in regard to political direction I have more confidence in the future than in the past.

Mr. De la Bère

A thoroughly unsatisfactory answer.