§ 50. Mr. THORNE (for Mr. HICKS)asked the First Commissioner of Works what is the annual sum paid in rent for buildings housing the staff, or sections of the staff, of various Government offices in London and the provinces; what percentage of the staff of Government offices are accommodated in buildings owned by the State; and what buildings to house staffs of Government offices are in course of erection, and the estimated cost?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe answer to the first part of the question is £455,160 per annum for London and £412,790 per annum for the provinces; and to the third part, 16 buildings at an estimated cost of £300,685. These figures exclude Post Office buildings, for which the Postmaster-General is responsible, and buildings of the three Defence Departments other than Civil Headquarters offices in London. As regards the second part of the question, the percentage for headquarters offices in London is 70. The corresponding information for ex-headquarters offices in London and provincial offices is not- available and could only be secured at the expense of considerable time and labour. The Crown buildings in course of erection are practically all Employment Exchanges.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that at any time the Government will build their own buildings, so that they can accommodate their own staff?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREA good many Government buildings have been built in recent years, but it is not always economic to build Government buildings.