HC Deb 05 August 1918 vol 109 cc913-4
57. Sir CHARLES HENRY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any estimate has been presented to the Treasury as regards the cost of the housing scheme at Chepstow; and, if not, whether it is proposed to proceed with the scheme before submitting such an estimate and obtaining Treasury sanction for the expenditure?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

I would remind my hon. Friend that I dealt with this question of the housing scheme at Chepstow somewhat fully in the Debate on Vote 8 on Tuesday last, and I explained that the additional expenditure required would be about £1,282,500, but that we had savings on other heads of the original estimate amounting to roughly half a million, thus making the net additional sum required £762,000. The estimates for that gross additional expenditure are now in course of preparation in full detail, and will be submitted to the Treasury at an early date.

Sir C. HENRY

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the difference between what has been saved and the old expenditure was submitted to the Treasury before the expenditure was adopted?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I think that is so. The net additional amount required is £762,500, and we shall submit the whole of the gross additional charge to the Treasury.

58. Sir C. HENRY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, on account of the experience of that Department, he will consider the desirability of entrusting to the Office of Works the housing scheme at Chepstow, and make arrangements that the German prisoners, whom it is intended to utilise on this work, shall be made available to that Department?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The question of transferring this work to the Office of Works was discussed between the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding and the First Commissioner of Works, and, with the full agreement of the latter, it was decided, in view of all the circumstances, that the work of erecting the additional housing accommodation required at the national yards should be carried out by the Department which is constructing the yards themselves.

Sir C. HENRY

Can the right hon. Gentleman state what were the reasons for the Office of Works coming to that decision? Is it not a fact that the Office of Works considers itself the best Department for carrying out these housing schemes?

Dr. MACNAMARA

That suggestion cannot be accepted in this instance, because the matter was discussed between the First Commissioner and myself, and it was agreed that it would be better for the Controller of Merchant Shipping to do it.