§ Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the continued occupation by the War Office staff of the halls, galleries, and other rooms of the University of London and the Imperial Institute, in consequence of which their educational work is seriously impeded, he can now state when these bodies may expect to regain possession of the buildings of which they are in urgent need?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe occupants of these buildings are engaged on the work of clearing up the estates of deceased officers and men. I cannot take the responsibility of such a disturbance of this work as would be caused by a sudden change of accommodation. The issue of the war gratuity alone means that some 700,000 estates have to be reopened, and it is urgently necessary that the State should discharge its obligations to the next of kin of whom the vast majority are people in poor circumstances.