HC Deb 24 March 1959 vol 602 cc1096-7
4. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Minister of Works on how many new buildings work has been started by his Department since 1st January, 1957; what is the purpose of these buildings; how many have been completed; by what date it is estimated that the remainder will be completed; and what is the estimated cost.

Mr. Molson

The information available includes a table of figures which I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It relates to the United Kingdom only, although we build all over the world.

Mr. Johnson

Again, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will answer the first part of the Question and say on how many new buildings work has been started? As there are already 113 in use, is it necessary to start on any more?

Mr. Molson

If the hon. Gentleman will wait to read the Answer, I think that he will understand the reasons for it. He could have derived most of this information from the Civil Estimates for this year, without involving about 50 man-hours of work in the Department and the setting out of information, the relevance of which I do not quite follow.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

The right hon. Gentleman seems to be unneces-

NEW WORKS £10,000 AND OVER ERECTED BY THE MINISTRY OF WORKS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Categories of Buildings Started since 1st January, 1957 Completed by 18th March, 1959
No. of Schemes Estimated cost No. of Schemes Estimated cost
£ £
Government Buildings (including Courts and Prisons, Ministry of Labour, Insurance, Pensions and Inland Revenue Offices, etc.) 83 3,763,771 23 1,185,726
Housing (including barracks) for Service Departments, Ministry of Supply, Atomic Energy Authority and Prison Commission, etc. 23 1,218,485 13 632,278
Museums and Art Galleries 10 788,674 6 445,722
Research Establishments (including R.O.Fs.) for Ministry of Supply, Atomic Energy Authority, Admiralty, D.S.I.R., Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, etc. 104 21,284,388 30 1,331,478
Post Office (including Garage and Workshops, etc.) 155 6,818,105 75 1,927,677
Telephone Exchanges (including Telephone Manager's Offices, etc.) 183 8,942,558 66 1,883,135
U.SA.A.F. 8 107,490 — —
Total 566 42,923,471 213 7,406,016

353 schemes started on different dates since 1st January, 1957, are due to finish on various dates ranging from months to years ahead.