§ 23. Mr. WILSON-FOXasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the inadequacy of the existing arrangements for lighting the Chamber of this House artificially causes to many of its Members great difficulty in reading; whether any Report upon these arrangements has been obtained recently from a competent expert authority; and, if not, having regard to the improvements which have been made in recent years in methods of artificial lighting, he will take immediate steps to obtain such a Report?
§ Mr. PARKER (Lord of the Treasury)I am aware that the intensity of the light is not so great as it might be, and the cause of this is that when the installation of electric light was designed it was considered better to keep the intensity down, and retain the colour effect of the gas lighting. It will be an easy matter to increase the intensity, and if it be the general wish of the House, I will give instructions to have this done, as it will certainly result in a better lighting effect for reading. As regards the employment of a competent expert, the Department's officers have as wide an experience of lighting, and are quite as competent as any outside authority. I am confident that they can produce the effect required if this be clearly defined.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYWill the hon. Gentleman keep the lights in this House as low as possible so as to prevent Members from reading their speeches?