Colonel Millsasked the Secretary of State for Air why billeting allowances for the Royal Air Force are to be increased to 30s. a week but only for householders who accommodate six or more men, as this is a reversal of the ordinary practice of reduction on taking a quantity and unfair to the small householder who needs equal consideration?
§ Sir A. SinclairThe rates payable for billeting under the Air Force Act have not been increased but arrangements have been made under which, in lieu of billeting, contracts for the accommodation and messing of airmen may be entered into with householders whose livelihood is normally derived from the accommodation of visitors and who suffer hardship from the prolonged billeting of Service personnel upon them. It is a condition of such contracts that the whole of the accommodation shall be reserved for R.A.F. personnel and that not less than six airmen shall be accommodated and fed. This number has been adopted as affording a reasonable criterion of the type of householder whom the arrangement is designed to assist.