HC Deb 05 July 1955 vol 543 cc927-9
7. Mr. C. Howell

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are made for the periodical examination of the troop concentration depot situated in Tottenham Court Road, London.

Mr. Head

A hygiene expert inspects the London Assembly Centre once a month and there are weekly unit hygiene inspections. The General Officer Commanding London District inspects the centre once a year to see that it is functioning efficiently.

8. Mr. C. Howell

asked the Secretary of State for War what bedding accommodation is provided in the troop concentration depot situated in Tottenham Court Road, London; and at what intervals the bedding is cleaned or changed.

Mr. Head

Mattress covers are changed once a week, and mattresses are fumigated every three months. Each man gets clean blankets.

Mr. Howell

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that these arrangements are being carried out?

Mr. Head

As I have said, this centre is inspected once a month by a hygiene expert and G.O.C. London District. They inform me that these arrangements are carried out. Occasionally, if we have a lot of fog and aircraft are grounded, the centre gets overcrowded, and then conditions are not all we want.

Mr. Howell

Am I to understand that when aircraft are grounded the effect is felt in Tottenham Court Road?

Mr. Head

Yes.

9. Mr. C. Howell

asked the Secretary of State for War how many times during each year for the past five years has the ventilation plant in the troop concentration depot in Tottenham Court Road, London, been found to be defective; and what arrangements are made for the accommodation of troops whilst the ventilation plant is defective.

Mr. Head

There are two recorded cases during the past five years on which the ventilation plant in the London Assembly Centre has failed. On each occasion the failure was due to a motor breakdown and the plant was repaired within a few days. About once a month the plant is closed down for up to two hours for maintenance but this short closure has no appreciable effect.

Mr. Howell

Will the Secretary of State keep a very close watch on this centre, because it should be obvious to him that these Questions have arisen because of complaints. It is quite clear to those who know Queen's Regulations that they allow men to make complaints, but there are certain complaints which, if made, indicate that the soldier or Service man is what we call effeminate—although the Army and the other Forces have another name for it.