§ Colonel WOODCOCKasked the hon. and gallant Member for Tonbridge, as representing the Charity Commissioners, the number of staff employed in the Department at the present time and the corresponding number in 1914, together with the annual cost of the Department for the last year and for the year 1914; if he will state the rental of the buildings used in Ryder Street, S.W.1; and whether these are leased for a. period of years?
§ Lieut.-Colonel SPENDER-CLAYThe number of the staff employed ill the Department at the present time is 118. In 1914 it was 131. The sum expended in the year 1914–15 for salaries and expenses of the Department as shown in the Appropriation Account for that year was £29,507 lls 11d.; the corresponding expenditure for 1924–25 was approximately £42,156. These sums do not include the expenditure,e.g., office accommodation, stationery, superannuation, etc., met from other votes. The premises in Ryder Street are held on a lease for 21 years from 1924 with breaks by either party at seven or 14 years. I understand that it is not the policy of the Office of Works to disclose the rent paid in respect of individual buildings.