§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner 1750 of Works what is the cost per Session, including attendant's wages, of the signal light on the Tower of the House of Commons, and what would be the cost of an electric light so placed on the summit of the Tower, as to be visible from all parts of London; and whether he proposes to replace the present light by the electric light?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) Dublin UniversityThe cost of the signal light of the House of Commons per Session, including the attendant's wages, is £60. The initial cost of substituting an electric light, as suggested by the hon. Member, would not be less than £750, and its annual cost £150. I believe, however, that it would be possible to re-arrange the existing gas signal light so that with the assistance of lenses it could be made visible all round, at an initial expense of, approximately, £400 or £500. I cannot undertake to carry out any change this Session, but I think there is substance in the complaint of the hon. Member, and I will take care that it is considered in connection with next year's Estimates.