§ SIR HENRY ROSCOE (Manchester, S.)asked the First Commissioner of 731 Works, Whether, in view of the serious deterioration of the stone fretwork of the interior of the Houses of Parliament, owing to the corrosive action of the products of combustion of gas, he will undertake to extend the system of electric lighting throughout the building, so as to avoid the evil consequences which attend the present system?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET) (Dublin University)To extend the present system of electric lighting throughout the whole of both Houses of Parliament would involve a very considerable expenditure, not less than £40,000, for plant. It would, however, probably effect a considerable saving in the annual cost of lighting the Palace. Before making any proposals upon the subject it would be necessary to consider whether some more economical way of obtaining the necessary current of electricity than that which we now use may be made available.
§ MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)asked, if it were not the fact that at South Kensington in two years a saving had been effected of the whole cost of the difference between gas and electricity?
§ MR. PLUNKETsaid, he was not aware that that was so.