§ 4 and 5. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) if he will treat as a matter of urgency the bad condition of Admiralty houses in Crombie, Fife; and whether he will give an assurance that immediate steps will be taken to carry out all necessary repairs, especially where failure to do so might endanger the health of tenants;
(2) if he is aware that in certain Admiralty houses in Crombie, Fife, drain covers are inside the houses, lavatories have no means of ventilation, interior walls are bare brick, and there is no hot-water supply and no bathroom provisions in many of the houses; and if he will give an assurance that the whole of the money drawn from the increased rents will be devoted to carrying out the much-needed repairs and modernisation.
§ The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith)I am aware that these houses are old fashioned, but they are not in such a bad state of repair as is suggested, nor is there danger to the health of tenants. The newly assessed rents are related to the value of the houses as they now stand. It is our intention to put in improvements where this is practicable, and plans towards this end are now being prepared.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that that Answer is clearly dictated by the smoothness of the advice he has obtained from the people on the spot? I have been there in the last fortnight and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the conditions are as bad as the Questions indicate. Is the Minister prepared to give an assurance that he will give this matter very careful consideration and, if need be, go and see the conditions there?
§ Mr. GalbraithI try to get round all Admiralty establishments. It is true that I have not visited Crombie yet, but I expect to be able to do so in due course. The undertaking which I gave was that plans towards the effective improvement of these houses are being studied.