HC Deb 12 May 1919 vol 115 cc1404-6

Resolution reported, That a sum, not exceeding £178,900, be granted to His Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1920, for Expenditure in respect of the Royal Parks and Pleasure Grounds.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution.

Mr. HOGGE

Before we agree to this Report stage, there are one or two items about which, I think, my right hon. Friend might give the House some information. The Estimate is divided into two parts. Certain details are referred to which occur in other Estimates connected with this service which relate to many other large public parks. As a matter of fact, these public parks have been used for certain war purposes and many of them, including some of the largest and most beautiful parks in London, are at the present moment studded with buildings set up for the purposes of war. None of us can complain about that, but I should be very much obliged if my right hon. Friend could give us some information as to when those public parks are to be again freed for the pleasure of the public, whether these rather utilitarian hideous buildings are to be removed, and whether there is any possibility of that being done in the near future. For example, in particular, there is an expenditure here of nearly £50,000 with regard to one of the principal parks, namely, St. James' Park, which, after all, is right in the heart of London, and one of the most delightful parts of London. We should also be very glad to know what my right hon. Friend has to say with regard to the policy of the demolition of these buildings, what staff remains, and how soon the public may have access to these open spaces to which they were accustomed prior to the War?

Sir D. MACLEAN

There is another suggestion I would make. I hope, in view of the demobilisation of the parks—if I may so term it—that the Department is moving upon those lines which one would expect from my right hon. Friend with his very large business experience—laying plans as to how the material, no longer used for the specific purposes, is going to be disposed of, and what prospect he thinks there is for the proposals, which I am sure he will set up to get the full market price for the nation, for the disposal of the very large amount of material which must be set free. On the general question of freeing the parks as soon as possible, it is obvious this year is what we hope will be the peace year, and a very large number of visitors, far in excess of ordinary times, will come to London. It is therefore of exceptional importance that our public parks should be as free as possible from these buildings, which we hope are no longer necessary for after-war purposes. Take, for instance, the disfiguration of St. James' Park particularly. The Ministry of Shipping is still there. We have heard that the Department of the Ministry of Shipping is already in process of being dispersed. Take that as a concrete example. What steps, if any, has my right hon. Friend taken with regard to the disposal of all the material which is there?

The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Sir Alfred Mond)

The question put by my hon. Friend is an important one, but, unfortunately, I have very little to say on the subject. As my hon. Friend knows very well, the question of dealing with accommodation is one of the most difficult questions at the present time. It is difficult to contemplate at the present moment a period for dealing with temporary buildings in the park. What I have done at present is, as far as possible, to endeavour to induce the military authorities to clear out their now no longer needed works from the park, and to free Kensington Gardens of the camouflage school, so that I hope, shortly, to restore it to its pristine beauty. Then, in Richmond Park, where there has been a great deal of military operations, I am in communication with the War Office, and also regarding Regent's Park, which is largely occupied by the Army Post Office and Aeroplane Department. But even at the present moment we are so pressed for accommodation that I have been reluctantly compelled to erect more huts in Richmond Park. If it will give my hon. Friend some comfort, I will say this: we are working at, and have in hand, schemes to enable us, I hope in reasonable time, to clear out a number of these large staffs from Central London to the periphery, and, as schemes mature, I hope to get the Departments housed; but I really cannot give any date, and I am afraid it would be useless to expect this year any substantial progress to be made with these buildings. Although it is true that the Shipping Department is to be dispersed, this House has been creating a very large new Department—the Ways and Communications Department

Sir D. MACLEAN

Only one.

Sir A. MOND

If it were only one, it would be easier, but we are also creating other Departments which have no permanent homes and have to be accommodated somewhere. The question of material does not really come up. It is a question whether I have to deal with it or whether it will be a matter for the Ministry of Supply, but, from analogy, I should Bay that that authority will have to deal with the question when it arises.

Question put, and agreed to.