§ MR. THOMAS BLAKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)asked the honourable Member for North-West Staffordshire, Whether any decision has been come to as to the description of stone to be employed in the erection of the new Public Offices; and, whether any steps have been taken to ascertain what description of stone is best adapted for the work, and what quarries could conveniently supply it in sufficient quantity?
MR. LEVESON GOWER (A LORD of the TREASURY) (Stafford, N.W.)No decision has yet been come to in regard to the description of stone to be used in the erection of the new Admiralty and War Office. A Committee was appointed last year by the then First Commissioner of Works, Lord Rosebery, to consider the question; and upon their recommendation some nine or 10 specimens of stone from quarries in Yorkshire and Scotland were obtained and submitted to experiments as to durability and porosity. Nothing fur- 1429 ther, however, has since been done in the matter.