§ Mr. Sparksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the rents charged to N.F.S. occupants of Acton Fire Station houses and flats, and show, separately, the rents charged to other occupants not now members of the N.F.S.
§ Mr. EdeServing firemen who are entitled to free quarters as an emolument of service pay no rent. Some serving firemen at Acton who are not so entitled pay 17s. 6d. a week for single men's quarters. A rent of 30s. a week is charged to persons who are not members of the Service for family quarters which they are continuing to occupy until they can find accommodation elsewhere.
§ Mr. Sparksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the widow and family of a recently deceased Acton N.F.S. officer has had the rent of her flat raised by the N.F.S. to 30s. a week; that this rent is in excess of the economic rent and far in advance of the rents paid for comparable accommodation upon the local council's housing estates; and if he will take steps to lower this rent to a more reasonable figure.
§ Mr. EdeNo question of an increase of rent arises in this case, since the deceased fireman to whom my hon. Friend refers was entitled to free quarters as an emolument of his service and therefore paid no rent. This entitlement ceased at his death; and until she can find other84W accommodation the widow will be asked to pay a rent for the quarters. The sum of 30s. a week is a provisional figure, pending the usual expert assessment. It is in conformity however with the assessments already made in respect of rather similar quarters on the same station. It includes rates and electricity consumption.