Vote 8. Works, Buildings and Lands (Hansard, 10 March 1960)

§ Mr. Mulley
In view of the time, I want to ask only one question, and to ask it rather sharply. In the general debate yesterday, a great number of hon. Members on both sides of the Committee mentioned that we had to be very careful about our bases in certain parts of the world, such as Cyprus and Kenya. Taking the long view, are we likely to be able to maintain those bases for a long time?
I have not been able to find any guidance from the Estimates themselves. What proportion of the expenditure on these works, buildings and lands overseas is being spent on these bases when we may well have to surrender them in a short time? If the Under-Secretary has the figures for the expenditure abroad, divided between countries and bases, it would be very helpful to have them. In view of the time, I should be grateful if the hon. Gentleman would send them to me.

§ Major Legge-Bourke
Before I say anything on the Vote, as the Leader of the Opposition is now in the Chamber, I should like to lodge a protest as strongly as I can against the appalling rush in which we have had to debate in detail these Estimates today. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will co-operate in this matter—

§ The Chairman (Sir Gordon Touche)
This is not relevant to the present Vote.

§ Major Legge-Bourke
If I may say so, hon. Members have sprung up from both sides of the Committee, to mention it—and my hon. Friend the Undersecretary of State for War has been talk- 774 ing throughout the debate about the time being what it is and about the little time left.

§ The Chairman
We are not discussing procedure at present.

§ Major Legge-Bourke
I am fully seized of that. I have a number of matters which I should like to raise on Vote 8, but because of the time I cannot do so and the Vote is £33,910,000, Sir Gordon, as you read out. It is absolutely abominable that the attendance in this Committee throughout the day should have been what it was and that we should be inhibited in this way in discussing these matters.
In the circumstances, all I have to say on the Vote is to ask the Undersecretary if he would please see that when renewal and redecorations are taking place of property under his Department's care, especially that type of property which concerns married quarters, somebody shows some interest in the work that is being done before the workmen actually move out. We all know the sort of thing that happens. The Ministry of Works comes into this matter to some extent.
It is really heartbreaking when one knows the considerable sums that are spent on redecorating married quarters that the whole thing should be done at the whim of the workmen concerned without anyone seeing that it is done satisfactorily. The result is that the work can very easily be done in slipshod fashion to the great disappointment of those how have been looking forward to having their quarters redecorated. This is not only bad for the Army, but it is an abominable waste of public money.

§ Mr. H. Fraser
I will certainly take up any point which my hon. and gallant Friend would like to raise. The new works organisation has made great strides and Mr. Gibson, the Director-General of Works, and others who are working with him are extremely conscientious. On the whole, I think that the kind of thing to which my hon. and gallant Friend has referred rarely happens. I will, however, take up most seriously any individual case he brings to my notice.
The hon. Gentleman the Member for Sheffield, Park (Mr. Mulley) asked for 775 rather complicated information which, I am afraid, I cannot subtract from the general sum which I have before me at the moment. I will write to him and let him have the details.
I repeat what I said last night. Of course we are at some risk once we are outside this country, but I am quite convinced that the bases we occupy overseas are not merely to our own benefit but are for the general protection of the Commonwealth. Throughout many parts of the Commonwealth, such as Singapore and Malaya, they are welcome, and I am sure will soon be welcome elsewhere.