§ 38. Mr. George Craddockasked the Secretary of State for War the number of military personnel sleeping in two-tier bunks at Didcot, Portsmouth and elsewhere; and what steps he is taking to have this inconvenient and unhealthy practice stopped.
§ Mr. HeadThere are 420 soldiers sleeping in two-tier bunks at Didcot and none at Portsmouth. I am obtaining the numbers elsewhere, and will write to the hon. Member within the next few days I would like to do away with this practice, but it is caused by shortage of accommodation. I think it is preferable to closely spaced single beds or using leaky huts. The health aspect is closely watched and so far has not been adverse
§ Mr. CraddockWhilst thanking the Minister for his detailed statement, may I ask if he is aware that huts erected to meet the needs of 15 or 16 soldiers by the use of two-tier bunks are now accommodating 32 soldiers, which makes it extremely difficult for these people to have the ordinary conveniences of putting their kit away, and means that twice the proper number of people are using the available space? Is not this really a very unhappy set of circumstances, in addition to being very unhealthy?
§ Mr. HeadI can assure the hon. Gentleman that I should like to build a lot of new barracks, but the building capacity is not in the country. Where men share a bunk they have double cupboards and double the space for hanging up their kit.