HC Deb 11 April 1889 vol 335 cc241-2
MR. WILLIAM M'ARTHUR (Cornwall, St. Austell)

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he will state the number of oil lamps provided for in the Estimate of £2,000 lately passed by the House; how many of them are hired; from whom are they hired; and what sum is paid for their use?

*THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. D. R. PLUNKET,) Dublin University

The number of lamps in use in the building is between 600 and 700. Of these only 24 are the property of the Government, and the remainder belong to the contractors. The contractors are Messrs. Patrick & Co., of 10, Millbank Street, who keep, in order to meet exigencies, a large stock within the building. For instance, 46 additional lamps had to be suddenly supplied for the use of Committees during the fog of yesterday. The charges made by the contractors cover the hiring of the lamps, the supply of oil, and the cost of lighting and trimming the lamps, including the pay of the staff of attendants who constantly inspect the lamps. The charges for such lighting are as follows: —Argand lamps, 11d. each lighting; moderators, 8d. each lighting; smaller lamps at rates varying down to 3d. each lighting. A record is carefully kept each day of the number of lightings. The total number of lightings last year was 60,443.

MR. M. KENNY (Tyrone)

May I ask whether the oil used costs 7s. a gallon?

*MR. PLUNKET

I am not prepared to say off hand whether it does.

MR. W. M'ARTHUR

What I am anxious to get at is whether the same charge is made for lamps that are used for a short time as for lamps that are used the whole evening.

MR. WINTERBOTHAM (Gloucester, Cirencester)

How often is this contract put out to public competition?

*MR. PLUNKET

I believe the gentlemen who supply us have been supplying us for a great number of years. The question of this contract was carefully gone into last year with the view of seeing whether any reduction could be made. Some reduction, although not a large one, was obtained. I trust that in the future there will be no need for such contracts, owing to the introduction of the electric light.