§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what was the total cost of building and furnishing the huts and hostels in Elizabethville, Birtley, Durham, and the total amount in rents received from the inhabitants of these huts and hostels during the War; the cost of building and furnishing the huts and hostels in that particular section of Elizabethville which is now occupied by the ex-soldiers and sailors in training there; the weekly rent paid by the Belgians during their occupancy of these huts and hostels and the weekly amount paid by the ex-soldiers and sailors now training there under the Ministry of Labour?
Mr. HOPEThe total expenditure involved is £329,500. The total amount of rent received from May, 1916, to2202W November, 1918, was £91,700. The cost of building the particular portions now occupied by ex-service men in training cannot be stated separately. When Belgians were admitted as tenants in May, 1916, rents were fixed for the cottages as follows, in virtue of the tenants' services with the Birtley Shell Factory: Four-roomed cottages, 10s; three-roomed cottages, 8s.; and hostel apartments, 6d. per night. As regards the other parts of the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the Ministry of Labour.