§ SIR J. LENG (Dundee)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the attention of his Department has been directed to the possibility of supplying ozone to the House of Commons when Members are not sitting; and whether, in view of the numerous cases of influenza amongst Members and officials during the present Session, he will consider the advisability of nightly disinfecting the House by the introduction of an element said to be fatal to insanitary microbes?
§ MR. PAULTON (Durham, Bishop Auckland)May I ask whether the right honourable Gentleman has considered the advisability of establishing a fumigating chamber for the use of such honourable Members as desire it?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKSI have caused the plant necessary for the manufacture and introduction of ozone to be inspected. The methods and practical merits of the process do not appear to me to be as yet sufficiently established. The cost of a complete installation at the Houses of Parliament would be some thousands of pounds, and the electrical pressure required for working it is no less than 12,000 volts.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask whether the right honourable Gentleman has considered the expediency of opening the windows to admit fresh air into the House before it assembles?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKSI shall be very happy to consider that. I believe the windows are opened. I have been down to the House several mornings to see whether this has been done, and I have found that the windows have been opened.