I move:—
That a supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1943, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of Public Works (1 and 2 Will. 4, c. 33, secs. 5 and 6; 5 and 6 Vict., c. 89, secs. 1 and 2; 9 and 10 Vict., c. 86, secs. 2, 7 and 9, etc.).
The purpose of this Supplementary Estimate is to meet extra expenditure under sub-head A in respect of salaries, wages and allowances, and, under sub-head D in respect of the cost of the telephone service. The Government decided to grant, as from 1st June, 1942, certain emergency bonus increases to civil servants and other persons employed in the public service. These increases involved, for the period from 1st June, 1942, to 31st December, 1942, an extra expenditure of £700 beyond the amount originally estimated for sub-head A, for 1942-43. The Government later decided to grant, as from 1st January, 1943, additional emergency bonus increases. The additional increases will entail a further expenditure of £1,050 beyond the original Estimate. The total extra expenditure on sub-head A, 1942-43, will, therefore, be £1,750.
Owing to difficulties arising from the curtailment of transport services and the shortage of supplies, it is being found necessary to have recourse to the use of the telephone more often than would be the case under normal conditions. It has been considered desirable, also, to have some additional lines and extensions installed. The result is that an excess expenditure of approximately £800 is anticipated on the original Estimate for sub-head D.