HC Deb 04 August 1911 vol 29 cc766-7

Considered in Committee.

(IN THE COMMITTEE.)

[Mr. EMMOTT in the Chair.]

Motion made, and question proposed, "That Clause 1 stand part of the Bill."

Sir H. CRAIK

Can we have some explanation as to what the plan is? I tried to make out from the Bill what was meant, but I could not understand it.

The TREASURER of the HOUSEHOLD (Mr. Dudley Ward)

The plans have been in the tea room some time. The object of this Bill is merely to transfer from the War Department to the First Commissioner of Works a certain piece of land on which the old St. George's Barracks used to be, so that it may be dealt with by one Depart- ment. All the land at the back of the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery will then be dealt with by one authority.

Sir H. CRAIK

How does it affect St. James's Park?

Mr. DUDLEY WARD

That does not arise on this Clause, because it is dealt with in Clause 4.

Mr. HILLS

May we assume that no disfigurement of St. James's Park will take place.

Mr. DUDLEY WARD

This Bill deals with a piece of land a long way from St. James's Park.

Question put, and agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Clause 4 stand part of the Bill."

Sir H. CRAIK

How will St. James's Park be affected?

Mr. DUDLEY WARD

When the east end of the Mall was altered a certain amount of land about half the size of the floor of this House was required for the sake of symmetry on one side of the road, and there are one or two corners which belong to the Office of Works and the Office of Woods.

Question put, and agreed to.