§ CAPTAIN BAGOT (Westmorland), Kendal)On behalf of the Member for the Harrow Division of Middlesex, I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that in the Probate Registry, Somerset House, on the same floor as Room No. 9 (the Literary Search Room) at the western end of the passage, there are rooms containing registers of wills and Administration Act books; that they have wooden floors; that the floor of this passage at this part is also of wood; that a wooden beam runs across the ceiling; that naked gas lights are used in these rooms, and also in the passage; and also that the walls are blackened by such naked gas lights; and will he take such steps as may be necessary to secure the safety of these rooms and their contents against fire?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sThe statements in the Question of my honourable and learned Friend are in the main correct; but I am informed that the registers contain copies only of the wills, and that all the papers in the rooms could be replaced if destroyed. I have received no representation from the head of the probate registry that he is dissatisfied with the arrangements made for the safety of the records, for the custody of which he is responsible; and, so far as I am able to judge, there are no special circumstances in regard to these rooms which would justify the large outlay which would be necessary to render them fireproof.