HC Deb 12 May 1903 vol 122 cc464-7

Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Question (6th May), "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the Second Resolution, 'That a sum, not exceeding £51,400, be granted to His 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, 1904, for the Royal Parks and Pleasure Gardens.'"

Question again proposed.

Debate resumed.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolutions—

3. "That a sum, not exceeding £27,700, be granted to His 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, 1904, for the Houses of Parliament Buildings."

4. That a sum, not exceeding £36,120, be, granted to His 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, 1904, for Expenditure in respect of Miscellaneous Legal Buildings."

5. "That a sum, not exceeding £30,150, be granted to His 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, 1904, for Expenditure in respect of Art and Science Buildings, Great Britain."

6. "That a sum, not exceeding £37,500, be granted to His 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, 1904, for Expenditure in respect of Diplomatic and Consular Buildings, and for the maintainance of certain Cemeteries Abroad."

7. "That a sum, not exceeding £339,000, be granted to His 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, 1904, for the Customs, Inland Revenue, Post Office, and Post Office Telegraph Buildings in Great Britain, and certain Post Offices Abroad, including Furniture, Fuel, and sundry Miscellaneous Services."

8. "That a sum, not exceeding £222,000, be granted to His 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, 1904, in respect of sundry public buildings in Great Britain, not provided for on other Votes."

9. "That a sum, not exceeding £119,019, be granted to His 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, 1904, for the Survey of the United Kingdom, and for minor services connected therewith."

10. "That a sum, not exceeding £14,204, be granted to His 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, 1904, for maintaining certain Harbours under the Board of Trade, and for grants in aid of Harbours."

11. "That a sum, not exceeding £17,980, be granted to His 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, 1904, for constructing a new Harbour of Refuge at Peter-head."

Agreed to.

MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)

said he would like to take this opportunity of asking the hon. Gentleman who represented the Office of Works whether he could give some account of the reasons which had caused so much delay in the progress of the building of the new Post Office at Aberdeen. This was a matter which he and his colleague had had occasion to call attention to from time to time. The progress of the work was extremely slow. This no doubt was partly due to the fact that the original plans were enlarged, but even then there was reason to complain that so little progress had been made. He would therefore like to ask how much was to be expended on the work during the present year, and when the work might be expected to be completed. He asked for an assurance that more rapid progress would be made next year and the year after than during the past two years. At present considerable inconvenience was experienced because the business of the Post Office had increased enormously, and the business was carried on in the old premises under great difficulties, while it had been found necessary to hire additional rooms outside to meet with the congestion. In these circumstances the convenience of the public and employees naturally suffered. He trusted that the hon. Gentleman would be able to give an assurance that there would be more rapid progress.

MR. AILWYN FELLOWES (Huntingdonshire, Ramsey)

said it was perfectly true that work, so far as the Aberdeen Post Office was concerned, had been slow. The reasons were, first the alteration in the plans, and secondly the difficulty in obtaining supplies of suitable granite for the different elevations. A sum of money had been set apart for continuing this work, and he was given to understand that the contractors would finish the work in November, 1905, which was the contract time.

Further consideration of 12th Resolution deferred till To-morrow.