§ * SIR PHILIP MAGNUS (London University)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether having regard to the prevalence of influenza among Members of the House of Commons, he will reconsider the advisableness of a daily adjournment of the House for a half-hour between the hours of seven and nine in the evening, with a view to the better ventilation of the House by the admission of fresh air through opened windows.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. HARCOURT,) Lancashire, RossendaleThe opening of windows would be a distinct hindrance to the efficient ventilation under the new and improved system. The absence of Members might be of advantage at any period of the sitting, but even during their presence the whole air of the chamber is changed every five minutes, and it is possible though not comfortable to do this in three minutes. The more rapid change is invariably effected during divisions when, both Members and air are in movement.
§ * SIR PHILIP MAGNUSMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has tried the experiment of flushing this chamber with fresh air for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes during a late sitting of the House?
§ MR. HARCOURTYes, the experiment has been tried, but not successfully.
§ * SIR PHILIP MAGNUSWill the right hon. Gentleman say what were the effects—were they more or less influenza
§ MR. HARCOURTThe effect of opening the windows to admit fresh air was to prevent any air being delivered through the floor.
§ * SIR PHILIP MAGNUSDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider it a disadvantage that fresh air should be received through the windows, rather than through the matting of the floor, over which scores of Members tread with dirt on their boots?
§ MR. HARCOURTThe fresh air admitted by the windows is received only by the exhaust fan in the ceiling, and not by Members on the floor.
§ SIR PHILIP MAGNUSrose to put a further Question.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThis can be raised on the Estimates.