STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE ON NEW WORKS, ETC., 1924-25.-contd. 9. Delay was occasioned through want of an adequate supply of labour. Total (revised) estimate, 2,4407.; expenditure to 31 March 1925, 1,2171. 13s. 4d.; balance, 1,2221. 6s. Ed. III. 1 and 2. See details following. III. 3 and 4. Requirements were less than anticipated. III. 5 and 6. See details following. (20085) C 4 STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE ON NEW WORKS, ETC., 1924-25-contd. A.III.-WORKS COSTING BETWEEN 5001. AND 2,0001. 1. ENGLAND AND WALES. British Museum: Alterations to accommodate Museum exhibits.. Estimated cost, 8351. Not completed. National Gallery of British Art: Electric (pilot) lighting . Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Fuel Research Station: Building for tar distillation, &c. .. National Physical Laboratory, Teddington: Adaptation of Victoria House National Physical Laboratory, Teddington: Reorganization of shops, Estimated cost, 1,000l. Not completed. £ S. d. 367 14 8 258 17 4 660 40 553 3 4 £1,879 15 4 2. SCOTLAND. Royal Observatory, Edinburgh: New water main and pressure pump .. A.III. URGENT UNFORESEEN WORKS. 5. ENGLAND AND WALES. £1,457 19 4 National Gallery of British Art: Construction of staircase in Duveen Galleries Estimated cost, 5,5201. Not completed. National Portrait Gallery: Extension of electric lighting.. Estimated cost, 7501. Not completed. Post Office Tube Railway: Provision of Storage accommodation for Estimated cost, 21,6007.; expenditure to 31 March 1925, Victoria and Albert Museum: Increased storage accommodation in .. Estimated cost, 5301. Completed. Saving due to modifications Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Admiralty Research Laboratory: Accommodation for Gyro Research Estimated cost, 3,6901. Not completed. Building Research Station, Watford: Purchase of land and buildings, STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE ON NEW WORKS, ETC., 1924-25-contd. £ s. d. 1,678 10 Forest Products Research Laboratory: Purchase of site and erection of new buildings near Princes Risborough.. Estimated cost, 39,2201. National Physical Laboratory: Additional room in roof of Electrotechnics Estimated cost, 6001. National Physical Laboratory: Steel roller-shutters in Photometry Estimated cost, 1,000%. Not completed. .. 13 4 9 720 1. It was anticipated that the work could have been carried out at a reduction on the total approved estimate, and the provision for the year was formed on this basis, but the expectation was not realized. Total (revised) estimate, 23,1251.; expenditure to 31 March 1925, 20,7701. 6s. 1d.; balance, 2,3541. 13s. 11d. 2. There was delay in the previous year in proceeding with the scheme and in obtaining delivery of plant. Total estimate, 5,2001.; expenditure to 31 March 1925, 4,5521. 2s. 5d.; balance, 6471. 17s. 7d. (See also Vote for Public Buildings, Subhead CC.) BB.3. South Kensington Generating Station: Oil Fuel Plant. Estimated cost, 2,5201. (See also Vote for Public Buildings, Subhead CC.) Not completed. BB.5. Lancaster House: Improved lighting installation. Estimated cost, 1,000l.; expenditure to 31 March 1925, 7411. 5s. 6d. ; balance, 258l. 14s. 6d. Completed. Saving due to modification of scheme and to economies in execution. Lionel Earle, H.M. Office of Works, 17 November 1925. Accounting Officer. DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR BUILDINGS. See also Report of Comptroller and Auditor General. ACCOUNT of the Sum Expended, in the Year ended 31 March 1925, compared with the Sum Granted, for Expenditure in respect of DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR BUILDINGS. EXPLANATION of the Causes of Variation between Expenditure and Grant. A.-See Statement of New Works. B.-There was considerable variation between estimate and expenditure for the cost of upkeep of individual Embassy and Legation Houses. The greater part of the excess is due to the local architect at Vienna failing to submit his statement of requirements in time for inclusion in the estimates. The cost of work carried out for that Legation, including making good damage to structure caused by frost during the winter of 1924, repairs to roofs following a fire, and various minor requirements, was approximately 6,5001. BB.-New subhead opened to record expenditure on telegrams. C-Due to the completion of the Legation House at Budapest earlier than anticipated (2,000), to the supply of furniture to Buenos Aires being expedited in view of the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (1,3007.), to changes in Ministerial posts at Athens, Washington, and Constantinople involving additional expenditure, and to increased demands from Consulates (1,000l.). EXPLANATION of the Causes of Variation between Expenditure and Grant-contd. Appropriations in Aid and Receipts payable to Exchequer.-Receipts of a miscellaneous character exceeded anticipation. Proceeds of sale of land and buildings at Chinnampo, Masampo, 857 6 1 £6,136 18 7 £ s. d. 5,144 5 Gratuities amounting to Lire 34,870 (3191. 17s. 8d.) were paid from subhead B to three employees at the Villa Rosebery, Naples, in accordance with local custom, on the termination of their services. Payment was also made of Lire 886.70 (87. 12s. 10d.), for medical expenses incurred by the caretaker, who was retired on the ground of failing health. (E.12200.) Subhead C.-1001., the value of furniture missing from Washington Embassy, has been written off. It was impossible, owing to war conditions, to determine under whose occupancy the losses occurred. (S.23909.) Subhead E.-Two shareholders in the Tehran Kanat failed to reimburse the Department for their proportion of the cost of improvements and maintenance, approximately 5871., and their quota of water flow was appropriated by His Majesty's Legation. Subsequently the shareholders sold their water rights, and as the arrears could not be recovered from new shareholders the amount was written off. (S.26576.) A site at Puket, presented by His Majesty the King of Siam in 1916, for the purpose of erecting a Consular Office, has been relinquished, the proposal having been abandoned. (S.22036.) The sum of Yen 900 (941. 18s. 5d.) has been admitted as a charge against this vote, being the estimated expenditure by the late Vice-Consul on works at Yokohama during July and August, 1923. The records were destroyed in the earthquake (S.1581.) Documents supporting expenditure, amounting to 2291. 6s. 7d., by His Majesty's Minister to the Holy See, and by His Majesty's Consul at Port Said were lost. The expenditure has been admitted as a charge against this vote. (S.27068.) H.M. Office of Works, 17 November 1925. Lionel Earle, I have examined the above Account in accordance with the provisions of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act, 1921. I have obtained all the information and explanations that I have required, and I certify, as the result of my audit, that in my opinion the above Account is correct, subject to the observations in my Report. Malcolm G. Ramsay, Comptroller and Auditor General. |