§ Colonel GREIGasked the Secretary of State for War whether there are at Georgetown, in Renfrewshire, unoccupied hostels, houses and workshops which at small expense could be adapted for housing purposes; and whether it would be better to fit up such unoccupied hostels, 1983W &c., rather than eject the present occupants of other houses who are ex-employés of the factory to afford accommodation for the employés of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONIt is not practicable to use as dwellings the huts within the ordnance depôt at Georgetown. The huts are scattered and there are no roads to them. To make them habitable it would also be necessary to provide for heating, water supply, drainage, etc., and would entail a very heavy expenditure which could not be justified. Owing to fire risks, no fires are allowed in the ordnance storehouses, and if dwelling-houses were permitted within the area of the depôt the danger of fire would be greatly increased. The houses occupied by the ex-employés of the munitions factory were let by the directing board of the factory up to Whit-Sunday, 1920, on the distinct understanding that they would be vacated on or before that date. They are now required for the accommodation of officers and civilian employés of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps Depôt, which is now located in the factory premises, and I regret that the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion cannot be adopted.