§ Major GLYNasked the First Commissioner of Works what is the annual sum paid in rent for buildings housing the staff or sections of the staff of various Government offices in London and the provinces; what percentage of the staff of Government offices are accommodated in buildings owned by the State; and in what cases are Government-rented buildings immune from rates and taxes?
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe annual expenditure in rents for buildings housing the staff of the various Government offices (excluding post offices, museums and galleries, coastguard stations and Ministry of Pensions hospitals) is as346W follows:—(a) London, £396,740; (b) Provinces, £307,092. In regard to the second part of the question, approximately 63 percent, of the staff in London are housed in Crown buildings; figures in regard to the provinces are not available, and considerable time and labour would be required to obtain this information. As regards the last part of the question, the Government makes a contribution in lieu of rates in the case of Government rented buildings occupied by staff.