§ Mr. GRANTasked the First Commissioner of Works whether the Board of Education offices in Whitehall were partly evacuated for reoccupation by the Board of Education but that some other Government Department have taken possession of them; and, if so, when these premises will be again ready for occupation by the officials of the Board of Education so that 797W that part of the Victoria and Albert Museum at present occupied by officials may become available for the proper arrangement and exhibition of the national art collection?
§ Sir ALFRED MONDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, with the exception of three rooms temporarily occupied by the Local Government Board. As regards the last part of the question, I am unable to state when the return of the staff of the Board798W of Education to their old quarters can be effected, as that is entirely dependent on a sufficient contraction of the staff of the Controller of the Navy, which is at present in occupation of a very large portion of the accommodation previously in use by the Board of Education. This question is, however, receiving the close attention of the War Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, and every effort will be made to rehouse the Board of Education in the new public offices extension building at as early a date as possible.