§ Captain R. TERRELLasked the hon. Member for the Poll ok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the number of leased premises utilised for Government offices during or immediately after the War which have been given up since January, 1922; whether any others have been leased or bought; if so, for what pur- 61W poses; and whether the Government is planning any and, if so, what new erections for the purpose of housing Government staffs?
§ Sir J. GILMOUROver 100 premises utilised for Government offices during or immediately after the War have been, given up since January last. Certain fresh premises have been taken, chiefly for concentrating local administrative62W staffs of the Ministry of Pensions, but these will be counterbalanced by the surrender of a large number of unsuitable offices during the next six months. It is not the present policy of His Majesty's Government either to purchase or to erect premises for the accommodation of Government staffs, but in one or two cases it has been necessary to purchase small property in order to secure tenure on the expiration of a lease.