§ MR. HORNER (Lambeth, N.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will explain why, in view of the inadequacy of dining accommodation provided in the House for Members, as shown by the Report of the Select Committee of last session, only a small 966 portion of the alterations recommended by that Committee has been carried out during the Recess: and, whether he can inform the House as to the result of the communication he stated, on 8th July last, he was then engaged in with the Treasury on the subject.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sI was unable to obtain Treasury sanction for the greater portion of the expenditure involved in the recommendations of the Select Committee, owing primarily to the great pressure on the national finances at the present time, and also because the matter was not very fully discussed last session, and several hon. Members made representations against some of the proposals. I obtained authority, however, to proceed with certain matters which more specially concerned the health of those in the building, and upon which all were agreed: and much of this work has already been done and more is in progress. A sum of £5,000 will be asked for in the Estimates for the ensuing financial year to meet the cost.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)Arising out of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is in his recollection that the Members' smoking room, as at present constituted, was declared by an expert last year to be insanitary?
§ MR. AKERS DOUGLASYes. A great deal of work has been done in connection with this. A large fan has been put in to take away the foul atmosphere from the kitchen underneath, and I think it will be in use in a few days.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI was particularly referring to the statement of the expert that the room was insanitary for more than forty Members, and yet double that number use it.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must not argue.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIt is a matter of health, Sir.