§ 34. Captain NORTHasked the First Commissioner of Works what is the total estimated cost for repairing the exterior of the Palace of Westminster; how much of this has been expended up to date; how the ultimate cost is likely to com pare with the original estimate; and whether it will be possible to effect any economy in this work either by accelerating or decelerating its progress?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe answer to the first part of the question is £750,000. This sum is substantially less than the original estimate of £1,060,000 which was prepared without full knowledge of the extent of the repairs necessary. The expenditure to date is £129,000. It is not considered that economy would be effected by altering the present rate of progress.