§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked whether in future the designs of architects other than the official architect will be invited when public buildings are contemplated; and whether the approval of the House will be obtained before the selected plans are carried out?
Mr. DUDLEY WARDA large number of public buildings are always in course of erection in the great towns throughout the country; and it is found to be easier, better, and more economical that they should be designed and carried out as 1066 part of the regular work of the Office of Works. The practice has, however, not been uniform in the case of the most important buildings. It has been the custom hitherto to lay before both Houses of Parliament the plans of public buildings of national importance, whether prepared by the official architect or by an architect in private practice. There is no intention of departing from this custom.
§ Mr. WATTMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether there is one official architect for the whole of the United Kingdom, or whether there is one each for England, Scotland, and Ireland?
§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will state the names of the architects responsible for the new War Office and the new offices of the Local Government Board and the Woods and Forests Department; whether designs were invited from other than the official architect to the Commission of Works; and whether the approval of Parliament was obtained before the plans were put out to contract?
Mr. DUDLEY WARDThe new War Office was designed by the late Mr. William Young, F.R.I.B.A. On his death the work was carried out by his son, Mr. Clyde Young, in association with Sir John Taylor, K.C.B., of the Office of Works. The Local Government Board Offices were erected on plans of the late Mr. John Brydon, F.R.I.B.A., and completed by Sir Henry Tanner, of the Office of Works, with the approval of an advisory committee of eminent architects consulted by the First Commissioner of Works. Both Mr. Brydon and Mr. Young were selected from a panel of architects submitted to the First Commissioner by the Royal Institute of British Architects. In both cases their plans were exhibited at the Houses of Parliament before execution. The Office of Woods was not built under the direction of the Office of Works. It was designed by Mr. John Murray, the architect usually employed by the Commissioners of Woods for buildings in London.