HC Deb 27 October 1953 vol 518 c2608
37. Mr. Hoy

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the possibility of siting the regimental pay office at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, instead of Leith Fort, as intimated in his Department's letter to the hon. Member for Leith, and thereby making it possible to release Leith Fort to Edinburgh Corporation for the building of houses.

Mr. Head

The final siting of the pay office in Edinburgh is being considered. The possibility of putting it into Redford Cavalry Barracks was suggested, but this is not at present possible because these barracks will be fully occupied by soldiers for some years to come.

Mr. Hoy

Has the Secretary of State no other site in view, because he must realise that it is not essential to have the offices sited in an area which is very hard up for the housing space so essential for the workers in the dock area?

Mr. Head

That is the crux of our problem. We are in an area which is hard up for housing space and, wherever we try to go in zones which are hard up for housing space, everybody says, "Do not come here."

Mr. Hoy

Would it be the Minister's intention to have a further meeting with the corporation before the matter is decided, because this is a valuable position and one of the few left in Leith for housing purposes?

Mr. Head

I would point out that the pay office is not in Leith Castle at the moment.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, while it is essential to have the workers near the docks, it is not essential to have the clerks in the pay office near the docks, and that the further away from the docks they are the better it will be for themselves and everybody else?

Mr. Head

I would point out to the right hon. Gentleman that, in this case, like many others, wherever the Army want to go, the local people say, "Do not come here."