§ 1. Commander Nobleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will extend the scheme whereby furnished houses or flats may be hired for use as married quarters, to cover all cases where married quarters are not available.
§ The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Walter Edwards)No, Sir. This scheme, as in the case of the other two Services, has been adopted as a temporary measure to ease the present shortage of married quarters at places where the number of quarters available falls short of the number it is intended to build. Our present policy is to provide married quarters in the United Kingdom only at certain naval air stations and other remote establishments, and the hiring scheme is restricted to these places.
§ Commander NobleIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this scheme has been going in the other Services far longer, and that the Navy really is not in line?
§ Mr. EdwardsI understand that we are in line so far as the application of the scheme is concerned. I want to emphasise that this is just a stop-gap scheme until the complement of married quarters has been erected in various establishments.
§ Captain RyderAre we to understand from the reply that there is no shortage of accommodation near naval dockyards?
§ Mr. EdwardsI do not think that arises.
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonHow long does the hon. Gentleman anticipate it will be before the complement of married quarters is achieved?
§ Mr. EdwardsI could not say how long, but we are getting on as quickly as possible.