§ Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the Report of the 19th meeting of the naval members of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute, held on 25th April, 1924, and to the statement contained therein that certain buildings that have been erected out of the canteen improvements fund are now claimed by the Admiralty; if the Admiralty were cognisant of the fact that this money spent in these buildings would automatically become their property, and, if so, why they did not point out to the men that this money was being returned to the Crown; and if the opinion of the Admiralty advisers has been obtained regarding the legality of the expenditure of this money on Admiralty property instead of adding comforts to the men's messes and canteens?
§ Mr. HODGESThe statement referred to is presumably that on page 38 of the Report quoted. The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have been permitted to extend or to add to buildings on Admiralty land out of funds at their disposal. The Admiralty are aware that buildings erected on their land will become their property, and this in a specific case in 1921 was pointed out to the Institute. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. I may add that the whole question of incidence of charge for canteen buildings is under consideration by the three Services concerned.