HC Deb 05 November 1919 vol 120 cc1533-4W
Colonel GRETTON

asked the First Commissioner of Works when the Mechanical Transport Contract Department will cease to occupy the Wellington Club in Grosvenor Place; if he is aware that the staff at present housed there consists of less than twenty persons all told, that the buildings are very extensive, that the rent alone is £4,000 a year, or more than £200 per person at present employed in the building; and if he will consider the desirability of this staff being more economically housed elsewhere?

Sir A. MOND

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by me on the 3rd instant to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Rushcliffe.—.[See OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd November, 1919, col. 1164.]

Lieut.-Colonel Sir S. HOARE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what progress has been made with the evacuation of the British Museum by Government Departments?

Sir A. MOND

A large amount of space in the British Museum occupied for storage purposes by the Prisoners of War Information Bureau has already been released; further space in the occupation of the Medical Research Committee will, I hope, be vacated at an early date; the remainder is in occupation by the Registry of Friendly Societies for whom, I regret to say, I have not yet been able to provide space elsewhere, but every effort is being made to do so.

Sir W. DAVISON

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether some portion of Central House, Kingsway, can be restored before the end of the year to the important business firms which have been displaced, having regard to the comparatively small number of Air Ministry officials who are now in occupation of these business premises—with an estimated rental value of £7,618 per annum, and having regard to the great inconvenience and loss being suffered by the business firms in question owing to the inadequacy of their present temporary accommodation?

Sir A. MOND

I am already making arrangements with the Ministry of Munitions for the staff in occupation of Central House to be concentrated in order to release some portion of the accommodation in advance of the whole which will be surrendered by the end of the year.