§ MR. J. F. HOPE (Sheffield, Brightside)I beg to ask the hon. Member for Lancashire, Chorley, whether he is aware that for the last few days one of the faces of Big Ben has assumed a greenish hue; if so, whether he is responsible for that phenomenon or whether it is due to some occult agency.
§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)The occult agency is an attempt on the part of the Office of Works to effect certain economies. The reason why I asked my hon. friend to put a notice on the Paper, which he has not done, was that there are scientific matters involved which I do not understand and a certain number of foreign words which I am unable to pronounce.
§ MR. J. F. HOPEIs the noble Lord aware that the phenomenon has been interpreted as an omen that the Home Rule controversy is entering on an acute phase?
§ LORD BALCARRESPerhaps the hon. Member for the Scotland Division is able to inform my hon. friend about that.