§ 27. Mr. GOLDSMITHasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the number of buildings erected by the Office of Works to the design of architects not connected with the Office of Works since the 1st January, 1907?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)No new buildings designed by outside architects have been commenced since January, 1907, but several have been in course of erection which were commenced prior to that date as under:—(1) Victoria and Albert Museum; (2) Admiralty Buildings, Block IV.; (3) British Museum Extension; (4) Public Offices, Whitehall.
§ Mr. GOLDSMITHIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Office of Works have spent over £4,000,000 in the last four years on the erection of new buildings, and apparently the whole of that work has been done by the official architects of the Office of Works; and will they see that in future outside architects are given a chance of competing with the official architects?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNI cannot say, without reference, whether the figures given by the hon. Member are correct, but there is no reason why the Office of Works should change the course which they have adopted.
§ Mr. GOLDSMITHIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these are the figures which he gave me last week?