§ MR. STORY-MASKELYNE (Wilts, Cricklade)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, considering the deleterious effect of the acid products, of the combustion of gas on the ancient wooden roof of Westminster Hall, he will consider the advisability of substituting the electric light for the gaslights-at present employed?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) Dublin UniversityI have carefully inquired into this matter, and I find that at one spot the hammer beams in the roof of Westminster Hall have been blackened, though not charred, by gas lamps, which are placed some 15ft. or 20ft. below them; but there is no ground for believing that any permanent injury has been done to these hammer beams, and no other part of the roof has been at all 261 affected. We are replacing as rapidly as we can gas by electric lighting throughout the Palace generally, and I hope we shall soon reach the lamps referred to in the question.