§ Mr. HOODasked (1) the First Commissioner of Works whether notices to quit at Midsummer have been given to the tenants of Lancaster Place, Strand, some of whom have been in occupation for 40 years and over and are unable to obtain other accommodation; whether he proposes to find suitable accommodation for them: whether the premises are in good condition and calculated to last for another century; and what is the reason for demolishing the property; (2) the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended to erect new buildings on the site of Lancaster Place, Strand, for use by the Inland Revenue officials in addition to the accommodation at Somerset House; and what is the estimated amount of the expenditure involved in the demolition of the existing buildings and erection of new premises?
§ Sir A. MONDThe property in question is being leased by my Department from the Duchy of Lancaster on the expiry of the existing lease, for the purpose of providing additional accommodation which is badly required for the overcrowded staffs of the Inland Revenue now in Somerset House and in hired buildings in the neighbourhood. The Duchy of Lancaster have given the existing tenants-formal notice to quit, but I regret that it is impossible for my Department to guarantee to find suitable accommodation for them, though any advice and assistance which my officers can afford them in this respect will be gladly given. The property is in fairly good condition, but the erection of a modern building will enable a very much larger staff to be accommodated on this valuable site. The cost of the demolition of the existing building and the erection of the new building is estimated at £320,000.