§ 8. Mr. Marplesasked the Minister of Works the total cost of the preparations for the celebrations on 8th June.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe works expenditure by my Department on preparations for the Victory Celebrations will be in the region of £100,000. This does not include expenditure on personnel marching in the procession, entertainments, or hospitality.
§ Mr. GallacherCan the Minister tell us what the scaffolding on the Terrace is for? Has it anything to do with the men from Nuremburg?
§ 10. Mr. Marplesasked the Minister of Works what quantity of timber will be used in connection with the preparation for the celebrations on 8th June; how many men have been, and will be, engaged on erecting stands, poles and other paraphernalia in connection therewith; and how many man hours have been, and will be, spent on this work.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe amount of new timber, excluding poles, used in preparation for the Victory Celebrations is 25 standards. The average amount of building labour employed during the work is 453 and the total of building labour man hours is 226,500. In addition, 22,000 man hours will be utilised in dismantling, and 145,500 man hours of engineering labour will be employed on engineering works.
§ Mr. MarplesWill the right hon. Gentleman give some sort of estimate of how many houses could have been built by the men in that time?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo, Sir. I cannot give an estimate of that, but what I can say is that the timber which is being used will be available for that purpose when it is taken down.
§ Major Cecil PooleCan the Minister say how many man hours were employed in getting out these statistics?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MarplesWhat proportion of this timber can be used after it has been sawn up for this scaffolding?
§ Mr. TomlinsonI should want to know for what purpose.