HC Deb 25 July 1912 vol 41 cc1344-5
57. Mr. GOLDSMITH

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether there has been any increase in the clerical and architectural staff of the Office of Works since the 1st January, 1907; and, if so, whether he can state the additional number of officials employed?

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)

The increases in the staff since the 1st of January, 1907, have been as follows:—79 clerks, 5 architects, 18 assistant architects.

58. Mr. GOLDSMITH

asked whether, inview of the fact that the annual expenditure, of the Office of Works is £2,500,000, he could state how much of this sum has been spent on new buildings during the past financial year and how much on repairs?

Mr. BENN

The total amount spent by the Office of Works on new buildings, including the cost of certain sites, during the year 1911–12, was £822,476, and on maintenance and repairs, £587,868.

59. Mr. GOLDSMITH

asked what is the amount of new work, excluding repairs, executed to the design of the Office of Works since 1st January, 1907, and what is the amount of salaries paid in connection therewith?

Mr. BENN

The expenditure upon new works executed to designs prepared in the Office of Works for the five years ending the 31st March, 1912, has amounted to £4,066,945. The total payment for salaries, etc., for the same period is £464,493, but a large proportion of this is for services not connected with the construction of new buildings.

Mr. GOLDSMITH

Is it the fact that the whole of this work has been done by the architect of the Office of Works, and that outside architects are never consulted and their designs never adopted?

Mr. BENN

No, Sir; the statement of the hon. Member is inaccurate. At least four modern public buildings have been carried out by architects not connected with the Office of Works.