§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for War (1) what are the allowances paid to persons billeting members of His Majesty's Forces in the London area; and what amenities are to be provided for such allowances;
(2) whether he is aware that the present billeting allowances for members of the armed forces are inadequate to meet the cost of food, service, fuel, etc., and is causing great hardship to hotel and boarding-house keepers, and private householders; and if he is considering any increase in these allowances?
§ Captain MargessonThe rates payable under the Army Act for the billeting of the Armed Forces are uniform throughout the country. Details of these rates, and the services for which they are paid, were given in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for East Rhondda (Mr. Mainwaring) on 19th November, 1941, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The rates are constantly under review and on present information are 1671W considered adequate for the meals and services required. Supplementary payments may be claimed for certain additional services when these are provided. In a few cases, where the continuous billeting of troops has been likely to cause undue hardship to householders who normally derive their livelihood from accommodating visitors, contracts are being entered into by which the whole of the accommodation (with a minimum of six beds) has been reserved for the use of service personnel at a special inclusive rate.