DEFENCE REGULATION 22 AND OTHER REGULATIONS DEALING WITH BILLETING. Memorandum by Sir Bernard Gilbert

6. substantial staffs of Government Departments will remain at Bath, Harrogate, Black pool and elsewhere, until Stage B, when some shrinkage in Admiralty, Air Ministry and M.A.P. strengths may be anticipated; and while the staffs remain large (i.e. until Stage B) living accommodation can only be found for them, if compulsory billeting powers exist and are used where necessary. 7. The Treasury will endeavour to make the retention of compulsory billeting powers more palatable in the towns affected by (a) authorising Departments to enter into agreements with householders on behalf of their staffs on a voluntary basis, where practicable, (b) endeavouring to give a clear indication at Stage A of the probable duration of the use of compulsory powers in towns in which, by the removal of staffs or otherwise, it may be possible to dispense with compulsory billeting fairly soon after Stage A, (c) Asking the Ministry of Works to provide additional hostel accommodation for Civil Servants (by new building or requisitioning) in towns in which evacuated Government staffs are likely to remain for a considerable period.