§ 115. Mr. Kaberryasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the amount of the expenditure incurred by the Yorkshire Electricity Board on extensions to its headquarters at Scarcroft, West Leeds, in excess of the sums authorised; and what instructions he has given or intends to give for prosecution of any offenders.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerIn 1949 my predecessor approved plans for the extension in stages of the old Yorkshire Electric Power Company's headquarters at Scar-croft so as to enable the new Yorkshire Electricity Board to concentrate their staff as far as possible. The total estimated cost of this extension was £39,250 but this did not include expenditure later found necessary to replace the worn-out heating system in the old building and extend it into the new building, nor did it include electrical wiring and other work that was carried out by the Board's own employees and did not appear in contractors' estimates. The omission of this work from the estimates led to its omission also from the application for authorisation. Nor was any authorisation sought for the extra expenditure arising from increased costs (£8,534), for that arising from requirements of the local authority (£2,969), for the removal and re-erection of outbuildings (£2,020), and for the surfacing of the car park (£60).
Except for a very small amount this expenditure was necessary for the proper completion of the building in accordance with the plans which had been approved and, therefore, had the various items been submitted to me before work was started 258W on them, I have no doubt that 1 should have authorised them. I am satisfied, after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works, that this is not the sort of case in which proceedings should be taken, whether they involved a private individual or a public body.