Vol. 99 No. 4
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, 1946, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of Public Works (1 & 2 Will. 4, c. 33, secs. 5 and 6; 5 & 6 Vict., c. 89, secs. 1 and 2; 9 & 10 Vict., c. 86, secs. 2, 7 and 9; etc.)
The purpose of this Supplementary Estimate for a token sum is to enable a surplus in Appropriations-in-Aid and savings on salaries, wages and allowances to be applied to meet an excess expenditure on travelling expenses.
It is anticipated that there will be an excess expenditure of £2,700 on travelling expenses. £1,000 of this excess represents extra travelling, mainly on school inspection work, by the staff of the architectural branch, and £1,600 is for increased travelling by the engineers in connection with arterial drainage surveys, which have proceeded on a larger scale than was anticipated when the original Estimate was framed. The balance of £100 is due mainly to the relaxation of emergency conditions, which has had an effect in facilitating necessary travelling generally.
There will be a surplus of some £2,000 in Appropriations-in-Aid. Requisitions during the year for works on an agency service basis by outside bodies (such as the British Office of Works, Central Bank, etc.) have been more numerous than was expected and, accordingly, the amount recoverable as administrative expenses will be greater than estimated. Services rendered by the technical staffs in connection with employment schemes have also been greater than was anticipated and will result in an increased amount becoming recoverable from the Vote for Employment and Emergency Schemes.
Difficulty has been experienced in filling posts in the architectural branch. As a result there will be a saving on sub-head A which will be sufficient to meet the balance, £700, of the excess expenditure on travelling expenses.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how many areas have been surveyed and can he give any indication as to when it is proposed the work will be started in these areas?
No area has yet been actually completed, but we are at present operating on the third area. I could not say that we have actually completed any one area.
