§ VISCOUNT ULLSWATERMy Lords, I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is now in a position to give information as to the number of private houses in London commandeered by the War Office and still held by it; for what purposes are any such private houses still retained; what rent is being paid for them; and when will they be returned to their owners.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (VISCOUNT PEEL)My Lords, in the absence of my noble friend the First Commissioner of Works, perhaps your Lordships would allow me to answer the Question. The number of commandeered private houses still held by the War Office is fifteen, fourteen of which, in Queen's Gardens, Bayswater, are occupied by the headquarters of the Eastern Command, and one building in Camberwell, which is used as married quarters. The total rental in respect of twelve of these houses is approximately £3,000 per annum, and the amounts payable in the remaining cases have not yet been fixed by the War Compensation Court. So far as can be foreseen the houses in Queen's Gardens will be surrendered within the next six months, and the Camberwell building will be vacated as soon as alternative accommodation is provided in the new building to be erected, which will probably be completed before the end of next year.