LORD BROUGHSHANEasked Her Majesty's Government if they will state in terms of square feet of floor space, approximately how much accommodation for office, storage and other purposes (1) is at present requisitioned by Government Departments; (2) has been derequisitioned since August, 1945; (3) will be derequisitioned in the course of the current year.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)I can give the areas held on requisition for storage and industrial purposes, but I can give only the numbers of premises held for office and other purposes. For storage and industrial purposes, the figures are: held by Government Departments at 1st April, 1954, approximately 2¾ million square feet; derequisitioned since August, 1945, approximately 220 million square feet; expected to be derequisitioned in the course of the current year, approximately 300,000 square feet. For office and other purposes the number of premises are: held at 1st April, 1954, excluding those held by housing authorities, 1,515; derequisitioned since August, 1945, 54,790; expected to be derequisitioned in the course of the current year, 525.
House adjourned at twenty-eight minutes before nine o'clock.