HC Deb 27 May 1968 vol 765 c1214
29. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the total expenditure by his Department for any convenient period during 1967–68 at Aldabra Atoll, in the Indian Ocean.

Mr. Mellish

Expenditure at Aldabra was negligibile, but the total cost to my Ministry of the 1967 survey and of planning in connection with the project was about £10,000.

Mr. Dalyell

From his experience, have my right hon. Friend and the Department learned anything about the difficulties of forward estimating techniques, and what conclusions have been drawn?

Mr. Mellish

One thing we have learned is not to try to build bases in places like Aldabra.

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