§ Mr. HOODasked the First Commissioner of Works (1) the number of Inland Revenue officials for whom accommodation could be found in the existing buildings at Lancaster Place, Strand, and has been provided in the design for the proposed new building on the site of Lancaster Place; whether the £320,000 proposed to be spent on the demolition of the existing buildings and the erection of the new building at Lancaster Place includes any and, if so, what sum for the fittings and furnishing necessary for the completion of the premises as new permanent offices; and, if not, what sum is to be set aside for the necessary fixtures and fittings;
(2) The number of Inland Revenue officials whom it is proposed to transfer from Somerset House to the new buildings to be erected on the site of Lancaster Place, Strand, and the department or departments of the Inland Revenue to which such officials are at present attached; whether it is intended to discontinue the use of the hired buildings in the neighbourhood of Somerset House in which Revenue officials are at present working; and which buildings will be discontinued and the number of the Inland Revenue staff at present working in each?
§ Sir A. MONDThe existing buildings would house a staff of about 450 and the new buildings about 1,100, excluding in each case the staff of the Duchy of Lancaster. The estimated cost includes fixtures but not furnishing, as the existing furniture will, of course, be available to a910W large extent, and it is not anticipated that any heavy expenditure for additional articles of furniture will be required. About 990 Inland Revenue officials are at present housed in hired buildings in the neighbourhood, and, in apportioning the new accommodation, full consideration will, of course, be given to concentration, but the extent to which the hired buildings could be given up cannot be determined at the present time.