§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of cottages owned by Government Departments or by the Disposals Board 1546W and the number unoccupied; and what is the average rent paid or demanded, stating whether the occupier pays rates and water charges, etc.?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have been asked to reply to this question as practically all the houses owned by the Government, other than those required for Government employés, are in the charge of the Office of Works. There are approximately 11,000 such houses (including hutments) in the charge of this Department and the Surplus Stores Liquidation Department, of which about 350 are unoccupied. The average rent is approximately 9s. per week. In about 80 per cent. of the cases this is inclusive of rates and water charges.