§ 42. Mr. WELLSasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the new extension to the general post office at Bedford, fronting on to a developing shopping centre, is of ugly design, thus causing dissatisfaction to the inhabitants; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the appearance of this building to meet the wishes of the public?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe building referred to is a telephone exchange, a purely commercial building, and a back addition to the post office, facing a street of minor importance. The situation called for no architectural elaboration, and in view of the call for strict economy and the scarcity of mason labour, it was decided that a plainly-treated brick building would suffice. I do not, therefore, propose to make any alteration.