§ Mr. NIELDasked when the Departmental Committee for considering and reporting upon the adequacy of the provision for meeting the requirements for the accommodation of the public service was appointed; who are the members of such Committee, and what progress has been made by it?
Mr. DUDLEY WARDThe Committee in question was appointed in November last; the First Commissioner being Chairman, and the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Office of Works members. No report which could be published has been made, but as stated in my answer of Monday last to the hon. Member, the information obtained has been placed before His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. NIELDasked what were the terms of reference to the Departmental Committee appointed to consider and report upon the adequacy of the provision for meeting the requirements for the accommodation of the public service; and whether such reference contains any instruction to consider the question from the point of view that the Prime Minister has promised to concede Home Rule to Ireland next year, and the housing of the staff in Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland for the transaction of the business of an independent or restricted Irish Executive Government?
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLBefore the hon. Gentleman answers this question, may I ask him whether he is aware that the Parliament House of Ireland, whose architect was a Member of the Irish House of Commons, will be available for the restored Irish Parliament and the offices of the Irish Executive?
Mr. DUDLEY WARDThe inquiry of the Committee has been limited solely to the present needs for further accommodation for Public Departments in London. With regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, no such instruction was made to the Committee.