§ 8. Mr. William Teelingasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what general directions he has given to officials and Boards within the control of his Ministry in regard to the purchase for office use of property suitable for housing.
§ Mr. GaitskellNone, Sir.
§ 9. Mr. Teelingasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why Tunbridge Wells has not been settled upon as the most central position for Boards working under his Ministry in the South Eastern Regional Area; whether he has considered the fact that their removal elsewhere will cause an added waste of petrol consumption; and what extra petrol allowances will have to be granted now that Prince's Hotel, Hove, is to be the Electricity Board's headquarters.
§ Mr. GaitskellWith regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for New Forest and Christchurch (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre) on 4th March. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No"; and to the third part, "I cannot say."
§ Mr. TeelingWould the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it would not be possible in areas such as Kent, Surrey and Sussex, instead of having Tunbridge Wells or any other place as a main centre, to use London, where they have already quite a number of offices?
§ Mr. GaitskellAs the hon. Member will probably have seen, the Electricity Board concerned have issued a statement to the Press indicating the circumstances in which they came to purchase the hotel at Hove.
§ Mr. TeelingBut may I ask the right hon. Gentleman is he is not aware that in that statement they say they have given up their premises in London in order to go to Hove?
§ Mr. GaitskellYes, but I do not think it would be desirable for the South Eastern Area Board to have premises in London and not in the area itself.