§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the £2,000 already voted for the Aberdeen Post Office are still available or if the money has been devoted to some 879 other purpose, and, if so, what purpose; and whether he will state, seeing that all preliminary arrangements are complete, why the building cannot commence in the spring of next year.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Akers Douglas,) Kent, St. Augustine'sOf course, I cannot answer this question, seeing it requires communication with Edinburgh, and it only reached me a few minutes ago. But I will send a reply to the hon. Member. Any money voted for a service for a given year is available up to the end of March, and if not then expended must be re-voted in the next year. With regard to the second part of the question, referring to the delay in the erection of these buildings, I may point out that the municipal authorities of Aberdeen desired the creation of a street which involved a change of site, and entirely new plans had consequently to be prepared.
§ MR. AKERS DOUGLASI have carefully looked into the matter, and am prepared to say that my facts are correct.