§ Major J. Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for War what is the total living accommodation in hutted camps under his control; and what proportion of this total accommodation is at present being used for service purposes.
§ Mr. LawsonThe total hutted living accommodation now held should provide for about 1,200,000 men at the emergency scale of 30 feet per man. But in practice the available accommodation is much less. Some of the hutting was built as extensions to requisitioned premises now being released, andsome for special purposes in isolated places. Often these types can no longer be usefully occupied by the Army and are being released. Certain camps are used by prisoners of war working for other Ministries. Many huts of war-time construction are now nearing the end of their useful life and lack of labour and materials makes their maintenance increasingly difficult. Finally, the austerity scale of 30 square feet per man imposed by war conditions may have to be increased this winter as the first stage towards a return to the peace-time scales. I can assure the hon. Member that all hutting accommodation which is habitable and practical is being fully utilised.