§ 15. Mr. COWANasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the conditions under which persons are employed by the War Office at the Tate Gallery; whether he is aware that there are no adequate provisions for heating or ventilating that building which, having a glass roof and no windows, receives its only supply of fresh air through the open outer doors, and that these conditions have recently resulted in a large amount of sickness among the members of the staff; and whether he will take steps to have these conditions immediately remedied or, if that is impracticable, arrange for the transfer of the persons employed in the building to more suitable premises?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Harcourt)I am well aware of the difficulties at the Tate Gallery which arise because it has been necessary in war time to accommodate staff in a building designed for ah entirely different purpose, and to increase the staff far beyond the figures at first contemplated. I hope to be able to move the whole of this staff to some more suitable building before next summer.
§ Mr. COWANDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it right to leave men who are serving their country in such conditions during the winter months?
§ Mr. HARCOURTI cannot accept the description of existing conditions which is on the Paper: I do not think that there is any difficulty about heating. I imagine that the real difficulty is about cooling in the summer.
§ Mr. HARCOURTI have visited it.