§ SIR H. WILLOUGHBYwished to ask Mr. Greene what was the gross amount of the estimates sent in by Mr. Barry, the architect, for the completion of the Houses of Parliament, and all works relating thereto; and whether the commission (of which Mr. Greene is a member) has any legal authority to sanction or to alter the amount of such estimates?
MR. GREENEwas sure the hon. Member would acquit him of any want of courtesy to him, or any wish to withhold information, if he declined answering the question in the form in which it was now put; because, in the course of a few days, there would be laid on the table of the House a statement, not only of all the expenses that had been incurred, but of all the probable expenses that might be incurred in 495 the completion of the Houses of Parliament. The form in which the paper would come before the House would be this: it would state in the first instance the amount of the estimate; it would state how much of the estimate had been expended, and how much remained to be expended. In the next place, it would state what additional expenses had been incurred in consequence of its having been found necessary to lay the foundations of the Houses deeper than was contemplated in the contract—in point of fact, they were nearly double the depth. It would next state what were the additional buildings, and the authorities by which the additional buildings were made which had added materially to the increased expense. There would be laid before the House a variety of other details of which it was absolutely necessary that the House should be informed. If he were to state the gross amount, it would give rise to a variety of misrepresentation. As to the question whether the commission had any legal authority to sanction or to alter the amount of the estimates, he could state that they were not able to enter upon them without the approval of the Treasury.
§ MR. MOWATTbegged to ask the hon. Gentleman whether any satisfactory arrangement had yet been made with Dr. Reid with respect to the ventilation of the new Houses? Most hon. Members would agree with him that the question was one of much importance: even the experience of last night must have convinced some that hon. Gentlemen attending their duty there were exposed to considerable inconvenience, if not danger.
MR. GREENEsaid, that the subject of ventilation was settled before he became a commissioner. It was arranged that Dr. Reid should have the ventilation of the House of Commons and the adjoining lobbies; he was not to have charge of the ventilation of the Committee rooms.
§ Subject dropped.