§ 55. Mr. HARRISasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what is the cost of the buildings now being erected on the open space behind Montagu House and the Victoria Embankment, and what is the accommodation provided therein; why they have been built of bricks and slate though the buildings are apparently of a temporary character; and what is the expected life of these buildings?
§ Captain HACKING (for The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS)Provision of £27,275 was made in the Estimates (Class I, 9) for the current year for the erection of these buildings, and the reconditioning of an existing building; accommodation for a staff of 370 will be provided; the form of construction was adopted partly with a view to future economy in maintenance and partly on the ground that a substantial proportion of the material used, such as concrete blocks and slates, were available either in store or on the site; the expected life of the buildings is from 15 to 20 years.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes not the hon. and gallant Gentleman think that over £25,000 is a lot to spend on temporary buildings; has he not heard from the Minister of Health that there is a great shortage, or alleged shortage, of bricklayers, and does he not think it rather extraordinary for the Government to use bricks for a temporary building in the circumstances?
§ Captain HACKINGThe Government are always anxious to economise, and this is a great economy. The annual value of the accommodation afforded by these buildings is about £6,000, and this figure will more than cover the capital expenditure on building, even on the assumption that the buildings are not retained for more than five or six years.
§ Mr. HARRISBut does not the hon. and gallant Gentleman think it very unwise to put very ugly, temporary buildings in the very centre of the capital city of the Empire, which seem to show that we are bankrupt?
§ Captain HACKINGI do not believe that they are so ugly as other temporary buildings might have been.