§ Sir P. PILDITCHasked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether it is intended to charge £25 per pitch per season for two days' play per week for football pitches in the Home Park at Hampton Court; if so, whether he is aware that this charge will expel from the grounds a number of junior clubs who hitherto have been permitted to play there without charge; whether, in the event of this charge being insisted upon, special facilities can be provided in the park for such players; how many of the unemployed were engaged in the work of levelling the football pitches in the Home Park; what was the area levelled and the cost of the work; was any Government grant made for this form of relief for the unemployed; and whether any request was made for this work to be done?
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§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the charge of £25 is considered reasonable, and is, I understand, less than is usually charged for similar facilities. The First Commissioner would point out that these grounds, being situated in a Royal park, and having been constructed out of monies provided by Parliament, must be open to the public generally, and their use cannot be restricted to any particular type or class of clubs, or to persons resident in any particular locality. Only two junior clubs have hitherto had the use of portions of the ground in Hampton Court Park, and there is ample alternative accommodation for them and other junior clubs free of charge in Bushey Park, equally convenient and accessible. The number of unemployed engaged on the levelling work was 50, the area dealt with was 30 acres, and the total sum spent on the games ground and the dressing accommodation, and providing a lodge for a park keeper, was £4,500; this expenditure was met to the extent of £3,500 out of the sum of £50,000 voted in 1921–22 for relief works for the unemployed, and this particular work was undertaken in response to the urgent demand for football grounds from clubs and societies in London and its suburbs.