§ SIR F. DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if, in view of the Milan disaster, resulting in serious loss of life, from the failure of the reinforced concrete, he intends still going on with the use of a similar system of construction at the National Gallery extensions and other buildings; and whether he will consider the advisability, in the national 1107 interest, of causing competitive and comparative tests to be made of the different systems of fire-resisting construction before proceeding further with the work.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. HARCOURT,) Lancashire, RossendaleSo far as my present information goes about the accident at Milan, there is nothing in it which makes me hesitate to employ the best systems of building in reinforced concrete both at the National Gallery and elsewhere. Tests of various forms of fire-resisting construction have been made by the British Fire Prevention Committee, and I do not see that any useful purpose will be served by repeating them.
§ SIR F. DIXON-HARTLANDIs not the same system which was in use at Milan the one adopted in the case of the National Gallery?
§ MR. HARCOURTsaid he understood that the Milan accident occurred during the preliminary tests which were intended to disclose defects of construction.