Colonel MALONEasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether it is proposed to move the Air Ministry to buildings in Kingsway; and whether, in view of the increasing importance of the Air Ministry and its relative status to other Government Departments, it would be preferable to select some site nearer Whitehall, such as the National Liberal Club, the Admiralty Controller, or other convenient building?
§ Sir ALFRED MONDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part of the question, it would undoubtedly be preferable for the Air Ministry to be accommodated nearer Whitehall, and every effort has been made to do so but without success, owing to the largeness of the staff to be accommodated and the impossibility of obtaining adequate and satisfactory accommodation. The buildings suggested are in full occupation by Government staffs.
§ Colonel Sir EDWARD BROTHERTONasked the First Commissioner of Works if he will furnish a list of hotels in London now used by Government Departments, and the names of the various Departments occupying same?
§ Sir A. MONDThe following is the list of hotels taken by His Majesty's Office of Works, and occupying Departments:
Hotel. Occupied by Carter's Hotel War Office. De Keyser's Hotel War Office. Grand Hotel Ministry of Munitions. Hotel Metropole Ministry of Munitions. Hotel Cecil Air Ministry. Covent Garden Hotel Air Ministry. Horrex's Hotel Ministry of Labour. Howard Hotel Ministry of Labour. St. Ermin's Hotel Ministry of Labour. Holborn Viaduct Hotel Board of Trade—Coal Controller. Hotel York Board of Trade—Timber Controller and Canadian Red Cross. Windsor Hotel Ministry of National Service and Reconstruction. Salisbury Hotel War Savings Committee. Belgrave Mansions Hotel American Army Headquarters. Goring Hotel American Army Headquarters.