HC Deb 04 March 1959 vol 601 cc418-9
4. Mr. Bottomley

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will cause an inquiry to be held into the reasons for allowing the Royal Marine Barracks, Chatham, to deteriorate for so long before allowing them to be used for industrial purposes.

Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith

No. Sir.

Mr. Bottomley

Is it not monstrous that this Royal Marine Barracks has been lying idle and rotting for seven years, with the consequent waste of public money, and that there is to be no inquiry?

Mr. Galbraith

There is no need for an inquiry when the facts are perfectly well known and when the sale of these premises has been achieved with very satisfactory results not only for the Admiralty but for the people of Chatham and the Medway towns.

Mr. Burden

Is it not the case that when the Royal Marine Barracks were closed by the party opposite it was estimated that the cost of putting them in a state fit for habitation at the standard of habitation for personnel which was then enforced would have been about £500,000?

Mr. Galbraith

I believe that is so.

Mr. Bottomley

Is it not a fact that the First Lord said that the Royal Marine Barracks would be used and that H.M.S. "Ceres" would be placed there? In view of the fact that that assurance was never carried out, what further safeguards have we that the First Lord's assurance about the dockyard is accurate?

Mr. Galbraith

My answer to that is, "Wait and see."