HC Deb 29 April 1958 vol 587 c162
4. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Works how much has been spent on building new Government offices in London since April, 1952; and how much is to be spent in the current financial year.

Mr. Molson

£2,400,000 and £445,000.

Mr. Lipton

In the light of those frightening figures of bureaucratic megalomania, will the right hon. Gentleman say why, with fewer civil servants, we need more Government offices, even allowing for derequisitioning? Why do Her Majesty's Ministers expect everyone to economise except themselves?

Mr. Molson

Expenditure upon Government offices has been less under this Government than the expenditure under the previous Government during a comparable period. This Government take the view that it is necessary that even civil servants should be provided with adequate and sanitary accommodation in order to carry on their work.