§ 51. Mr. WHYTEasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will state the reasons which led the Advisory Committee to sanction the proposal to leave the design of the new Government buildings in Scotland in the hands of the officials of his Department; and whether he will state by what process an independent architect of high standing is to be selected?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)The existence of an Architectural Department in the Office of Works involves the general principle that designs and plans should be prepared, as a rule, within that Department. The Committee examined the designs and model of the proposed buildings, and decided to ask for the advice of an architectural assessor. Sir Robert Lorimer has kindly consented to act in that capacity, and the Committee are now waiting his report.
§ Mr. W. BENNThe responsibility for the design will rest with the First Commissioner of the Board of Works.
§ Mr. WHYTEWhen the Works Depart-partment was constituted was it not intended or works of a comparatively minor character?
§ Mr. W. BENNI should not like to say that is so; perhaps the hon. Member will give notice.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERHas the First Commissioner the necessary amount of knowledge and experience to enable him to decide?
§ Mr. PIRIEHas he ever been in Edinburgh, or docs ho know anything about Scottish building and architecture?
§ Mr. W. BENNThe First Commissioner took every step to ensure that this building shall in every respect be one worthy of the position and in consonance with Scottish opinion.
§ Mr. W. BENNI cannot say.
§ Lord BALCARRESWhat is the size of the model on which the Committee has come to this conclusion?
§ Mr. W. BENNI cannot say the exact size, but it is a considerable model. Hon. Members have been invited to inspect it. Perhaps the Noble Lord will do so.
§ Lord BALCARRESWere any full-sized drawings of the details submitted to the Committee in amplification of a small model of that size?
§ Mr. W. BENNThe small model was not of the size indicated by the Noble Lord, but no doubt drawings did exist in the office.
§ Mr. WHYTEWas the independent architect chosen by the First Commissioner himself or called in by the Committee?
§ Mr. W. BENNI think the name was approved by the Committee and by the general consensus of public opinion.
§ Mr. W. BENNThat I cannot say without notice.
§ 52. Mr. HOGGEasked whether the Edinburgh University buildings, the M'Ewan Hall, the Usher Hall, the Art Galleries, and the Scott Monument were all the fruit of open competition, and that the King Edward VII. Memorial at Holy-rood is to be open to competition among architects; and whether, therefore, in view of the fact that the proposed Government buildings on the site of the Calton Gaol will be the most important public building in Scotland, he will accede to the desire of the entire architectural profession to throw the designs of these buildings in the first instance open to public competition: and will he say how the small committee of four arrived at their decision that an open competition would be unnecessary, in view of the fact that they neither saw nor considered any alternative designs?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNNo doubt the facts stated by my hon. Friend as to other buildings are correct. I have just replied to the remainder of the question in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Perth.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the hon. Gentleman inform the House how this Committee of four arrived at the decision that this was the best design when they had only one design before them?
§ Mr. W. BENNThe Committee decided this would be a good and suitable design, subject to the advice and assistance of Sir Robert Lorimer.
§ 53. Mr. FREDERICK WHYTEasked whether the hon. Gentleman will give the name of the independent architect of high standing who has been called in to assist the Advisory Committee in their examination of the designs for new Government buildings in Scotland: whether a fee will be paid to the architect in question; and whether the First Commissioner of Works has received any representations on the subject from associations of Scottish architects?
§ Mr. W. BENNAs I have already stated, Sir Robert Lorimer has, at the request of the First Commissioner, consented to act, and he will be paid a fee for so doing. The First Commissioner has received representations on the subject from association of Scottish architects.
§ Mr. HOGGEWhat attitude does the First Commissioner of Works take up with regard to these representations?
§ Mr. W. BENNIn so far as they fall in with the course he intends to take he approves of them.
§ Mr. WHYTEMay I ask whether he has not since this question was put down seen representations from other and more important sources'?
§ Mr. W. BENNI am not aware of any formal communication to the Office of Works since the question was put on the Paper.
§ Mr. LYELLMay I ask whether Sir Robert Lorimer is to give his opinion at present, or is he to act in consultation with the Office of Works throughout?
§ Mr. W. BENNHe is to be in constant and unintermittent consultation.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWhat is to be the amount of the fees?
§ Mr. W. BENNThat matter has not yet been decided.