§ 19. Mr. WATTasked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of his Department to build in a central position in Glasgow a new Labour Exchange at a cost of£100,000 for the site and£l50,000 for the building; whether a new building for this purpose was built seven or eight years ago in College Street; whether this building is to be abandoned and sold; is he aware that the site said to be chosen is in the most costly street for sites; and whether ho will state the necessity for this expenditure in war-time?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Bridgeman)As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Tradeston on the 23rd April, there is no question of erecting or extending any building in this connection. 1104 The existing building in Sauchiehall Street is to be used at a rental of£1,700 a year. The building erected for the purposes of an Employment Exchange in College Street in 1911 is Government property, and will be fully utilised by other Government Departments. As regards the question of the cost of the site, I have already mentioned that the building is being leased, but I may observe that the rental fixed appears to me to be a very reasonable one for the accommodation provided. I should add that the acquisition of these premises in Sauchiehall Street enables the Department to dispense with three separate sets of premises in Glasgow (including the College Street premises) now used for Employment Exchange premises, and further to dispense with an additional Exchange in Glasgow which had been sanctioned, but for which premises had not yet been secured.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow does the rent of these new premises compare with the rent of the other premises?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is not easy to say, as, amongst other things, it dispenses with the rent of premises which have not been taken, but for which Treasury sanction had been obtained.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELWhat is the net cost of the present scheme as compared with the previous scheme?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot say offhand, but I think that I can give the right hon. Gentleman the figures if he will put down a question. As I said yesterday, the cost of adaptation of this site was£3,000.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt refers to buildings which it would have been necessary to acquire, as well as a site.
§ Mr. J. M. HENDERSONAre you lying out of your money for the site?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo. I have said already that we have not got the site. We have got a lease at£1,700 a year.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it the case that the site of one of these buildings to which the hon. Gentleman referred as being dispensed with has actually been acquired?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am not quite sure of that, but I will inquire.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not the case that a supplementary Estimate was granted for the price of the site?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI do not think that the one to which the hon. Gentleman is referring is the same as the one referred to in my answer.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow many are there, then?