BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22003, 29 January 1937, Page 11

BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICES

BUILDING OF NEW BLOCK

SUSPENDED

DANGER OF CENTRALISATION

IN WAR TIME

(Received January 28, 9.41 p.m.)

LONDON, January 28

The political correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" declares that there is reason to belieye that a change of policy lies behind the decision to suspend for a year the building of the big block of new Government offices in Whitehall, costing £1,500,000. The centralisation of Government offices has long been an official ideal; but there are now doubts whether it * would not be a serious disadvantage in war time, especially as the proposed new building would be near the river, which, as the last war proved, affords the best bearings for enemy aircraft. Whether this means the complete abandonment of the Whitehall scheme remains to be seen. The political correspondent of the "Morning Post" says it is understood that the Government's surprising decision to suspend the construction of the Whitehall building was taken in the interests of London's air defence. It is felt that the new building would present too great a target for air attack.

It was proposed to house in it four vital Government departments —the Air, Labour, and Transport Ministries, and the Board of Trade. More than 5000 civil servants would thus have been accommodated under one roof.

It is not expected that the work will be resumed.