HC Deb 21 March 1911 vol 23 cc239-40
Mr. COURTHOPE

asked the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Dudley Ward) as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what offices and other buildings are at present occupied by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries; whether he is aware that inconvenience is caused by the offices of the Board being situate in so many separate premises in different parts of London; and how soon he expects to be able to provide the Board with new offices capable of housing all their departments in one building, in accordance with the expressed intention of his predecessor in office.

The TREASURER of the HOUSEHOLD (Mr. Dudley Ward)

The premises at present occupied by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries are:—3, St. James's Square; 4, 5, 8, Whitehall Place; and portions of the following: 3 and 6, Whitehall Place; 43, 44, Parliament Street; Winchester House; Queen Anne's Chambers (storage); 54, Victoria Street (storage). The inconvenience caused by the offices of a Public Department being so dispersed is an evil which the First Commissioner is experiencing in his own Department, and one, he regrets to say, not uncommon in the public service. A building to accommodate the whole of the staff of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries is now in course of erection; and it is hoped that the new premises will be completed about the middle of 1913.

Mr. COURTHOPE

Which building is that?

Mr. DUDLEY WARD

It is a building close to Scotland Yard.