Houses of Parliament Buildings (Vote 4):

It is proposed to continue the work of hand-picking and renewal of the decayed stone work in Parliament Buildings generally, an amount of 3,500l. being provided, as compared with 9,000l. in 1923-24.

Art and Science Buildings, Great Britain (Vote 6) :

The large reduction in rents is due mainly to the vacation of the Crystal Palace by the Imperial War Museum, which is now housed in the Imperial Institute Buildings. The reduction in the Subhead for Furniture, Fittings and Removal Expenses arises from the fact that the provision for 1923-24 included the cost of removal of the Museum to its new quarters.

A sum of 8,000l. is included in the Maintenance Subhead for re-conditioning the Jermyn Street premises occupied by the Geological Museum. The Museum has been closed to the public for some time on account of the dangerous condition of the roof. Diplomatic and Consular Buildings (Vote 7) :—

The Embassy buildings at Tokio and the Consular buildings at. Yokohama were destroyed in the earthquake which occurred in September, 1923. It has been necessary to make provision for 5,500l. for completion of the temporary buildings commenced in 1923-24 to house the staffs pending reconstruction of the permanent buildings. Provision of 10,000l. has been made for the commencement of the work of reconstruction, the total cost of which is provisionally estimated at 300,000l.

Sites for Legations at Montevideo and Santiago were purchased in 1923-24, the cost being met from the general provision of 25,000Z. in that year for the purchase of sites in South America. Provision is made in 1924-25 for the commencement of building operations at those Capitals, and for a new Legation at La Paz.

The title of Subhead M.M. formerly " Imperial Wireless Chain has been altered to "New Works, Alterations and Additions (Wireless services)," and the provision of 45,000l. therein covers all Wireless services, including those previously in Subhead M. An analysis of the proposed expenditure is given in Part III of the Estimate.

Labour and Health Buildings, Great Britain (Vote 9) :-

The provision for improved or additional accommodation for Employment Exchanges is mainly in respect of temporary

structures.

Public Buildings, Great Britain (Vote 10):

A new Subhead has been opened in this Estimate for recording expenditure on the custody and maintenance, pending disposal, of surplus properties which have been transferred to the Office of Works from the Disposal and Liquidation Commission (see par. 73 below).

(11447)

a 4

A new net Subhead has been opened to record transactions in respect of services which, for various reasons, the Office of Works undertakes on behalf of other Departments and Bodies on repayment terms. Provision is made for the estimated gross expenditure less the estimated repayments during the year. An addition is made to the prime cost of all such works to cover overhead charges. The receipts in respect of overhead charges are brought to account in the Appropriations in Aid Subhead of the Vote for the Office of Works and Public Buildings (Class II, 32), which Vote bears. the overhead charges.

A sum of 40,000l. is included to cover the cost of providing new accommodation for the Coast Watching Force, and for improvements to existing premises as required. Separate provision is also made for the completion of new coastguard cottages at Newquay and Post Isaac.

House Building (Vote 10a):

It has been found necessary to continue the Estimate for House Building in connection with the erection of houses by the Office of Works for Local Authorities under the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1919. Many of the schemes are either completed or on the point of completion, and it is anticipated that all will have been wound up before the end of the year 1924–25.

It has been found necessary to ask for a re-vote of 86,1751. in respect of the acquisition of sites of certain temporary schemes held under the Defence of the Realm Act, in view of the impossibility of completing the negotiations for purchase before 31st March, 1924.

Works and Buildings in Ireland (Vote 14):–

A re-vote of 60,000l. is required in respect of the provision of a site and buildings in Belfast for the Supreme Court and Public Offices.

An amount of 46,000l. is included for the provision of a Residence for the Governor of Northern Ireland, and 6,100l. for furnishing the Residence.

17. Fourteen Estimates in this Class show an increase aggregating 275,530, and the remainder a total decrease of 4,057,0571. The net decrease is apportionable to:

18. The Estimate for the Irish Department disappears. From the 1st April, 1924, the Home Office will take over such members of the staff as are required for affairs relating to Northern Ireland, and the Colonial Office those required for Irish Free State affairs. The Home Office will also account for the liquidation expenses of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

19. The Estimate for the Home Office (Vote 4) includes a new item of 22,2501. for Contributions towards the expenses of a system of Probation on the general lines of the scheme recommended in the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Training, Appointment, and Payment of Probation Officers (Cmd. 1601). It is hoped that this scheme will lead eventually to a substantial decrease in the expenditure chargeable to the Prisons Vote. The decrease of 25,904/. in the Estimate is due mainly to a net decrease of 39,990l., in the provision for Liquidation Expenses of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

20. The various Estimates for which the Board of Trade account, with the exception of that for the Bankruptcy Department (Vote 12) which continues as a token figure only, again show considerable decreases, although the inclusion of provision (14,0007.) for initial expenditure on the taking of a Census of Production in respect of the year 1924 causes an increase on Ordinary Services in the Board of Trade Estimate (Vote 9):

21. The decrease (513,8051.) on War Services of the Board of Trade (Vote 9) is due to the diminishing cost of maintaining the temporary Departments and of meeting commitments entered into during the war. The separate Timber Disposal Department has ceased to exist. Although the gross total for the Reparation Claims Department shows a considerable increase owing to the inclusion of a new item of 40,000l., to meet payments of claims for restitution of cash and property under article 238 of the Treaty of Versailles, the equivalent of which will be received from the German Government and is credited as an appropriation in aid of the Vote, the actual cost of administering the Department is much reduced, and both. it and the Food Liquidation Department will come to an end in 1924-25. The Russian Claims Department is being maintained at a minimum of cost pending a decision as to the settlement of claims against Russia, and the probable period of its duration is still uncertain. There is a reduction in the gross cost of administering the Clearing Office for Enemy Debts. The expenses of this Office, including the provision of 400,000l.

for guarantee of the debts of British Nationals in the United Kingdom to German Nationals in Germany, under the Treaty of Versailles, are covered by fees which are appropriated in aid of the Vote.

22. The provisions made for Purchases and Advances (War Services) show substantial reductions. The charges in respect of Reparation Dyes and Australian Zinc Concentrates will be covered by receipts from proceeds of sales which are appropriated in aid of the Vote.

23. The Estimate for Mercantile Marine Services (Vote 11) shows a net decrease of 62,7311., due partly to smaller provisions being required for the Coastguard and for War Services, and partly to the fact that the estimate of Appropriations in Aid allows for a full year's receipt from fees at the higher rates charged under the Fees (Increase) Act, 1923.

24. The additional sum required to meet the expenses of the Mines Department of the Board of Trade (Vote 13) is due to an increase in the staff of the Mines Inspectorate. This increase is due to (1) the necessity for more inspection of coal mines; (2) the additional work thrown on the Inspectorate by the greater complexity of mining operations and by the administration of new regulations brought into force in recent years, and (3) the increase in the number of persons employed in the industry. The additions include a Medical Officer who is to be employed temporarily in securing improvements in the organisation of First Aid arrangements underground. The total cost of the Mines Department, including expenditure for which provision is made in other Estimates, is well below the maximum fixed by the Mining Industry Act, 1920.

25. The Estimate for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Vote 14) shows a net decrease of 2,704,3231. This is explained.in the main by the fact that, in the 1923-24 Estimate, 3,000,000l. was included for a Grant in Aid of the Cattle Pleuro-Pneumonia Account for Great Britain to meet expenditure in connection with the present series of outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease.

26. Omitting this special item for purposes of comparison, there is a net increase of 295,6771., which is accounted for by the following increased provisions :—

(a) County Agricultural Committees, Administrative Expenses (Subhead F).

In order to provide for the proposed extension of the activities. of County Agricultural Committees in connection with schemes for the improvement of the cultivation of land, etc., 60,000Z. is included, compared with 1,000l. in 1923-24.

(b) Small Holdings Account (Subhead J.1).

The amount estimated to be required for recoupment of losses by
County and Borough Councils on land settlement is 899,3007.
compared with 850,010l. in the previous year.

(c) Loans to Agricultural Co-operative Societies (Subhead L.4).
A token provision was made for this service in 1923-24 (by
Supplementary Estimate), and 200,000l. is included in the present
Estimate.

27. A sum of 50,000l. has been provided to meet the expenses of a special Research Committee which has been appointed to conduct and supervise investigations into the causation, prevention and cure of Foot and Mouth disease. An equivalent grant will be made from the Development Fund. Provision of 4,000l. is made for the expenses of the Ministry in carrying out schemes for the provision of agricultural credit under the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, and an equivalent sum will be drawn from the Agricultural Credits Account, to which 440,000l. has been allocated from the Supplementary Vote for 1923-24 (H.C. 103 of 1923). In both cases the sums receivable are appropriated in aid of the Vote, leaving the net amount of the Estimate unaffected.

28. The increase of 15,000l. in the Estimate for the Forestry Commission (Vote 15) is due to expansion. The amount of the Grant in Aid required in any particular year is governed by the estimated net expenditure for the year and the balance in hand at the commencement of the year. Although the balance which is expected to be in hand on 1 April, 1924, is 100,000l., compared with 70,000l. at 1 April, 1923, it includes 35,000l. for 1923-24 commitments in respect of Afforestation grants, and the free balance is therefore 65,000l. only.

29. The Estimate for the Ministry of Transport (Vote 16) shows an increase of 13,2781., due to the fact that in the 1923–24 Estimate provision was made, under Appropriations in Aid, for recovery from Amalgamated Railway Companies of Railway Tribunals expenses for previous years, the estimated net receipts in this connection being 28,6251. in 1923–24 and 8001. in 1924-25.

30. The increase of 5,2951. in the Estimate for the Government Chemist (Vote 18) is due to the substitution of Laboratory Assistants, whose salaries are borne on this Estimate, for loaned Customs and Excise officers, whose salaries were borne on the Customs and Excise Vote. The substitution will effect a substantial economy in salaries.

31. The small increase in the Estimate for the Friendly Societies Registry (Vote 21) is due to the necessity for additional temporary clerical staff for work arising out of the Industrial Assurance Act, 1923, and to the lower estimate for Appropriations in Aid.

32. The increase of 4,1701. in the Estimate for the Government Actuary (Vote 22) is due to the provision for additional temporary staff in connection with the valuations of the assets and liabilities of Approved Societies. The last previous valuations were made as at 31 December, 1918.

33. In conformity with the announcement made by the Minister of Pensions in the House of Commons on 21 February, 1924, the Estimates for the Board of Control, England and Wales (Vote 23) and the General Board of Control for Scotland (Vote 38) make provision for grants from the Exchequer, as from 1 April, 1924, to cover the cost of maintaining those ex-service mental patients whose mental condition was neither attributable to nor aggravated by service. The amounts provided, viz., 32,0001. for England and 4,6007. for Scotland, represent the three quarterly. charges which will come in course of payment up to 31 March, 1925.