HC Deb 19 March 1919 vol 113 cc2118-20W
Mr. ROSE

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will state the amounts expended for rents, buildings, and upkeep generally by his Department on behalf of the Ministry of Munitions, the Department of Overseas Trade, the the Ministry of Pensions, the Ministry of Food, the Ministry of National Service and Reconstruction, the Ministry of Shipping, and the Ministry of Labour?

Sir ALFRED MOND

The amounts expended up to the 31st March last are as follows:

£
Ministry of Munitions 689,858
Ministry of Pensions 66,177
Ministry of Food 97,529
Ministry of National Service 70,306
Ministry of Reconstruction 3,890
Ministry of Shipping 423,021
Ministry of Labour 140,782

It is not possible to give figures for the Department of Overseas Trade, the expenditure being merged in that for the Board of Trade. The figures for the Ministry of Labour include expenditure on Employment Exchanges.

Sir OWEN PHILIPPS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty experienced by business men from the Midlands and the North in attending the usual commercial meetings in London owing to the lack of hotel accommodation in London; and whether, in view of the fact that this state of affairs greatly hampers business and tends to hinder the re-establishment of British industry, he will press for the release at the earliest possible moment of all the hotels at present under requisition for the use of Government Departments?

Sir A. MOND

As I have repeatedly said, I fully appreciate the position alluded to in the first part of the question, and I am making every effort to release hotel accommodation as rapidly as possible, but I would again remind the hon. Member and the House that the rate at which this can be effected obviously depends upon the reduction of the occupying war staffs, over which I have no control.