§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the First Commissioner of Works, At what hour the Regent's Park is opened and closed to the public at different seasons of the year, and why a difference is made in this respect between the Regent's Park and the other Royal Parks of the Metropolis; whether he is aware that the time of opening varies from day to day, and that a large number of the working class resident in the district are put to great inconvenience by the present conditions by the loss of time they are put to; and, whether he will take steps to afford them greater facilities, especially by causing the park 1264 to be opened to the public earlier in the morning?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET) (Dublin University)At present the gates in Regent's Park are opened at 5 A.M. from March 1 to September 30; and at 6 A.M. from October to the end of February. I hope, however, to be able now to make arrangements by which these gates will be opened regularly at 5 o'clock in the morning all the year round. I should be very glad also to keep the gates open later in the evening; but that would involve a great increase of the charges for police and lighting in Regent's Park. I have had a rough estimate made by which it appears that it would cost upwards of £5,000 capital expenditure, and more than £1,800 a-year additional. I will look further into this question, but I cannot make any promise on the subject.