§ LORD BROUGHSHANEMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated value and the approximate area of the sites of Government buildings in London and in Great Britain respectively; whether any plans are in view for returning any, and if so, to what extent, of these sites to private ownership to enable traders to extend their businesses and provide goods for export; and what is the approximate annual rental paid by the Government for premises in London and Great Britain respectively.]
948§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, the area of accommodation held by the Ministry of Works for use as Government offices by all Departments in Great Britain is 41 million square feet, including 16 million square feet in London. This total comprises 15 million square feet of Crown freehold, 22 million square feet leasehold and 4 million square feet held on requisition. The area held by the Ministry for Government storage, workshops, et cetera, totals 28 million square feet, including 4.8 million square feet in London. This total comprises 12.4 million square feet of Crown free-held or leased property, and 15.6 million square feet on requisition. The approximate annual rental of premises held by the main property holding Departments on hire is £7,000,000 including £4,000,000 in London, and on requisition £3,000,000. including £1,500,000 in London.
It is the policy of the Government to hand back requisitioned properties to their owners as soon as they can be released from Government use, particularly where their owners require them for other purposes of national importance. At the end of the war approximately 93,000 properties, excluding industrial premises, were held on requisition by Government Departments. Of these nearly 90,000 have been released. Owing to defence requirements, the prohibition of the erection of new office buildings and the scarcity of other premises, it will, however, be impossible to release the properties still held on requisition as quickly as we had hoped.
§ LORD BROUGHSHANEMy Lords, while thanking His Majesty's Government for their sympathetic reply, I should be glad to know whether they are satisfied with the progress which has been made, as it is within my knowledge that a large number of firms engaged in the export trade, and thereby earning dollars, are hampered in extending their businesses. Will the Government do everything possible to derequisition as many as possible of the premises held by them?
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, the answer is in the affirmative.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether he has included in his figures houses requisitioned by the Ministry in London for organisations such as the London Hostels' Association? Does his answer include such hostels?
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, I understand that the figures I have given of the area of accommodation held by Government Departments in London include the premises requisitioned by the Ministry of Works on behalf of the London Hostels' Association.
§ LORD BROUGHSHANEIt has been widely stated that a further £30,000,000 is to be spent in the requisitioning of further premises. Is there any ground for that statement?
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, I regret that I am not in a position to give the noble Lord an answer to-day, but if he will put a Question on the Paper I will do my best to reply to it.