§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked the Junior Lord of the Treasury, Whether the completion of the Houses of Parliament, according to the designs of the late Sir Charles Barry, has been under consideration of Her Majesty's Government; and, whether it is the case that, if carried out at the estimated cost of £500,000, a saving of upwards of £20,000 per annum would be effected by the discontinuance of rent paid for premises elsewhere?
§ MR. HERBERT GLADSTONEThe statement that the completion of the Houses of Parliament, according to the designs of the late Sir Charles Barry, would, if carried out at the estimated cost of £500,000, effect a saving of upwards of £20,000 per annum by the discontinuance of rent paid for premises elsewhere, rests on an assumption which, in the opinion of the First Commissioner of Works, is not accurate. If the hon. Baronet will refer to pp. 20 to 23 of the Civil Service Estimates, he will see that, with some exceptions, it would not be possible, without great inconvenience, to make changes in the position of premises rented by the Government, so as to effect a saving in rent of the amount stated. Moreover, it would be an act of at least very doubtful expediency to lodge Public Departments in the Palace of Westminster.
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked, considering the great interest attached to the complete scheme, whether the hon. Gentleman would cause drawings of the complete elevation to be placed in the Library?
§ MR. HERBERT GLADSTONEreplied that the matter should be considered.