HC Deb 25 March 1919 vol 114 cc243-4W
Sir HERBERT NIELD

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the number of persons at present accommodated at 12, Princes Street, Hanover Square, the rental of which is £2,000 per annum, does not exceed twenty-five, while the premises afford accommodation for, approximately, some 400 to 500 additional persons; whether such premises have been requisitioned by His Majesty's Government and placed at the service of the National Society during the occupation by the Government of the premises of that society, which have been commandeered; whether he will furnish, for the information of the House, a statement showing what premises other than hotels have been taken by the Government in London for Government staffs; for what number of persons has office accommodation been requisitioned; and what is the number of persons in actual use of such accommodation; and whether, with a view to further economy being exercised in the disbursement of public money, he will cause inquiry to be made and reduce the accommodation to some reasonable proportion in relation to the national need?

Sir ALFRED MOND

As regards the first part of the question the explanation of the small number of staff is that the premises are utilised by the National Society not as offices only, but as their shop and the distributing centre for their literature. As regards the second part, the premises were not requisitioned but hired by agreement for the reason stated in the question; as regards the remaining part, I regret I am unable to give the information asked for, as its preparation would involve a considerable amount of time and labour, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the War Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, of which I am Chairman, is making every effort to secure the fullest utilisation of all premises acquired for Government staffs, and the surrender with the least possible delay of surplus space as a result of diminution of staffs. I must, however, once again emphasise the fact that neither I nor my Committee have any control over the numbers of staffs of Government Departments.