asked the Minister for Defence if he will state, with reference to the reply given to Question No. 42 on 27th October, in relation to expenditure on buildings to the value of £117,000, whether the projects involved are included in any of the classifications of expenditure referred to in Question No. 74 on 3rd November; if they are not so included, if he will state (1) how they can be described, (2) if there are any other building projects of the same type, (3) whether there are in respect of such projects savings on other sub-heads consequent upon delays in preparing contracts, and what is the present net value of Supplementary Estimates after making allowances for saving known to him as of this date as applied to such projects.
Written Answers. - Expenditure on Defence Buildings.
The projects involved amounting to the value of £117,000 are not included in the classifications of expenditure referred to in Question No. 74 of 3rd November, 1954.
As regards the second part of the question it was originally intended that the projects should be undertaken by the Commissioners of Public Works under the Vote for Public Works and Buildings but they were not included in the Estimates for Public Works and Buildings. In February last the Corps of Engineers were directed to undertake the works. They fall within the general ambit of the Vote for my Department under sub-head S—Miscellaneous New Works. There are no other building projects of the same type in progress.
As regards the third part of the question, there are no savings on such projects on other sub-heads consequent upon delays in preparing contracts. On the contrary there will be a substantial deficit on sub-head S.
I am not in a position to say what will be the net value of Supplementary Estimates that may be required.