HC Deb 21 January 1913 vol 47 cc211-3
49. Mr. HOGGE

asked the number of separate Government offices in Edinburgh, giving their location and title; the number of head offices, branch offices, overflow offices, and temporary offices, with their location; how many of the premises are owned, leased, or rented; the rates and taxes, or their equivalents, on those offices; the number of telephones in use; the number of messengers employed; the number of housekeepers; the number of separate lifts; the number of Departments set up within the last five years; their relation to the centre of the city and the railway stations; and how many of them are on the tramway service?

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord Of the Treasury)

The information asked for by my hon. Friend can only be obtained by a large amount of research involving great labour and some delay. The First Commissioner would be willing, should my hon. Friend desire it, to prepare and furnish a list of the Government offices in Edinburgh.

Mr. HOGGE

Will the hon. Gentleman supply us with that list in view of the site for these buildings?

Mr. W. BENN

I have already stated that the First Commissioner will be glad to supply the list.

Mr. PIRIE

Has the hon. Member found out whether the First Commissioner has ever been in Edinburgh and examined the site?

Mr. SPEAKER

That question does not arise.

64. Mr. MORTON

asked whether the desirability of having an open or selected competition as to dealing with the Calton Hill site, Edinburgh, has yet been considered; and, if not, in view of the importance of the matter, will the First Commissioner have the proposal considered?

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN

The question of having a competition for the buildings on the Calton Hill site has been considered. The First Commissioner has invited Sir Robert Lorimer to express his views on the scheme which has been prepared. When the report has been received the First Commissioner will lay it before the Committee which has been considering this question.

Mr. HOGGE

What is the use of this if they have not yet got the site on which these buildings are to be put, and if the site, as they assume, belongs to someone else who has never yet been paid for it?

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN

Difficulties as to the title of the site have nothing Lo do with the Office of Works.

Mr. HOGGE

Ought the Department to be put to the expense, and Scottish Members to the trouble, of looking into the matter if the site is not available for the buildings of which they have actually a model in the Board of Works Office now?

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN

The Office of Works has no evidence to show that the site will not be available, and are proceeding on the assumption that it will be.

Mr. MORTON

Is it the fact that before any building operation can be undertaken the matter must come before the House on the Estimates?

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN

Oh, yes. No new work will be undertaken until a Vote is passed in Committee of Supply.