MR. VIVIANasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the ventilation of the Committee Rooms, with the object of securing a proper supply of fresh air without the draughts which are now necessitated by the opening of the windows? The hon. Member stated that since giving Notice of his Question he had found that the inconvenience was of a far graver character than he thought. A witness who recently gave evidence before a Committee was taken ill in the Committee Room, and expired shortly afterwards.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE, in reply, said, that he believed the Question referred to the ordinary, not the Grand Committee Rooms. It did occasionally happen, when there was great public interest in any inquiry, that the Committee Room was inconveniently crowded, and complaints were made as to the ventilation. It was only in these exceptional cases 1913 that he had heard complaints. The whole subject of the ventilation of Committee Rooms was considered by a Committee some two or three years ago, and every improvement which could be suggested was effected. He was not aware that anything further could be done now.
§ MR. J. R. YORKEthought the right hon. Gentleman did not realize the gravity of the matter. He wished the right hon. Gentleman would favour with his presence some morning the Room in which the Committee on the Manchester Ship Canal Bill were sitting. That Committee had been at work de die in diem since May, and was likely to sit into July. It was very crowded, and if the Chief Commissioner would attend there for a short time some morning he would have some faint idea of the sufferings of those who were forced to attend, day after day, under the influence of the genial climate with which they were favoured in this part of the country.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREsaid, that he was informed that the Room in question had been inconveniently crowded, and he was also informed that no remedy was possible when that was the case.