§ Mr. HASLAMasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the necessity for reducing national expenditure, he will take means of approaching the Government Department in occupation of the Westgate Hotel, Newport; Mon., with the view of terminating such occupation, seeing that for a long time only a small fraction of that building was 240W occupied and the whole building could be disposed of for useful purposes, accommodation being scarce in the neighbourhood; and whether he is aware that a unanimous resolution of the Newport Chamber of Commerce has been recently passed complaining of the waste implied in this question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Westgate Hotel, Newport, was occupied by the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps up to the end of January, 1919. It was then loaned to the Ministry of Pensions arid vacated by them in September, 1919. The delay in. handing back to the owners is due to the cleaning and repairing and reinstating about £10,000 worth of furniture. This service, which the owners were unwilling to undertake in the usual way, had to be undertaken by the War Department, and is being proceeded with by contract as expeditiously as possible. It is hoped to have all the work completed and the hotel available- for handing back on or about 31st December, 1919. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.