§ 1. "That a sum, not exceeding £238,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1898, for the Customs, Inland Revenue. Post Office, and Post Office Telegraph Buildings in Great Britain, including Furniture, Fuel and sundry Miscellaneous Services."
§ 2. "That a sum, not exceeding £159,100 (including an additional sum of £1,100), be grunted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1898, ill respect of sundry public buildings in Great Britain, not provided for on other Voles."
§ Resolutions agreed to.
1122§ 3. "That a sum, not exceeding £22,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1898, for expenditure in respect of Royal Palaces and Marlborough House."
§ MR. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid.)asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the fees at Holyrood could be abolished at once. He understood that the right hon. Gentleman had agreed that the fees should cease after this year, the did not see why any charge should the made at Holyrood, when in similar palaces in England no such charge was made, the hoped the right hon. Gentleman would approach the Treasury with a view to seeing whether the charge could not be done away with now.
§ * THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)said he was anxious that there should be similarity of treatment between the two countries in this respect. He had considered the matter, and as soon as it was possible the fee should be abolished. It was not quite so easy as the hon. Member thought. There was n negotiation with the Lord Provost and the Corporation of Edinburgh, which it would be necessary first to carry through. Moreover, if the charge were abolished at once a supplementary Estimate would be required, as it would be impossible to carry on the caretaking of the Palace unless they had the appropriation of these fees. As soon as he could make the necessary arrangements the fees should cease.
§ Resolution agreed to.
§ 4. "That a sum, not exceeding £70,000, he granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1898, for the Royal Parks and Pleasure Hardens."
§ 5. "That a sum not exceeding £23,000, he granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day' of March 1898, for" the Houses of Parliament Buildings."
§ 6. "That, a sum not exceeding £25,000, he granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day" of March 1898, for the extension of the Admiralty Buildings."
1123§ 7. "That a sum, not exceeding £39,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1898, for expenditure in respect of miscellaneous legal buildings, viz., County Courts, Metropolitan Police Courts, and Sheriff Court Houses, Scotland."
§ 8. "That a sum, not exceeding £16,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1898, for expenditure in respect of Art and Science Buildings, Great Britain."
§ 9." That a sum, not exceeding £16,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1898, for expenditure in respect of Diplomatic and Consular Buildings, and for the maintenance of certain cemeteries abroad."
§ Resolutions agreed to.