§ Mr. ALDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether numbers of soldiers using the Young Men's Christian Association huts near the railway stations in London are compelled, even when they have to catch very early morning trains, to leave the huts and find beds or else walk the streets; whether the Young Men's Christian Association has on many occasions requested the officers acting on behalf of Colonel Matthews, the inspector of huts, to allow some discretion to be used so that these men need not in every case be compelled to turn out in all weathers for two or three hours; and whether, under these circumstances, he will cause an inquiry to be made, and, if the facts are as stated, he will consent to modify the War Office Regulations?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo men who are legitimately entitled to be in a but are compelled to leave. If sleeping accommodation is not available in a particular hut men who have only two or three hours to wait before continuing their journey are allowed to sit down rather than be sent on to other rest houses in the neighbourhood. I should like to add that every effort is made by the General Officer Commanding London district to provide for the comfort of soldiers on leave in London.