HC Deb 08 May 1950 vol 475 cc6-7
7. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

asked the Minister of Works when it is proposed to remove from Westminster Hall the temporary offices and Members' cloakrooms which, at present, disfigure the building.

Mr. Stokes

I hope to remove the temporary offices at the end of this year and the temporary cloakrooms early next year in time for the Festival of Britain, provided Members will accept restricted cloakroom accommodation in the Cloisters until rebuilding is completed.

Sir T. Moore

As the right hon. Gentleman will agree that the beauty and dignity of the hall is destroyed by this clutter of buildings, could not he find a place, somewhere, sooner than next year?

Mr. Stokes

The answer really turns on the amount of inconvenience that hon. Members of this House will put up with. If they are prepared to be a little bit overcrowded in the cloakrooms, I expect I can make quite quick progress, but it depends upon the House.

Brigadier Medlicott

Can the Minister say how soon the screen at the head of the staircase will be removed?

Mr. Stokes

Not without notice.

Mr. Driberg

When is the new building to be completed? Surely, it is to be completed some time before the beginning of next year.

Mr. Stokes

My hon. Friend is in error if he thinks that the completion of the House necessarily means the completion of all the ancillary services. The building, we hope, will be ready before the end of October, but I am making no promises. The "outlying districts" present a more difficult problem in many ways.