§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the cost of the Metropolitan Police building in Victoria Street exceeded the original estimate of £425,000 by more than £1,000,000; who made the original estimate; what salary or fees were paid to those connected with preparing this estimate; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe figure of £425,000 for adaptations was a preliminary estimate made by the Staff of the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District in February 1964, who took into account the general experience of the Ministry of Public Building and Works of the cost of fitting out open floor areas for occupation by Government Departments. Consequently no special payment of salary or fees was involved. The estimate was made at an early stage, before negotiations for a lease were put in hand, and detailed plans, work programmes and knowledge of the extent to which special adaptations for police purposes would be required were not, therefore, available at the time.
Building had already started when it was decided to lease the premises, and the building had to be adapted as it developed, in order to avoid delay in the provision of this urgently needed accommodation.