HC Deb 12 December 1927 vol 211 cc1834-5
32. Mr. HARDIE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what progress is being made regarding the repairing of the stonework of the Houses of Parliament; and what stone, if any, has been chosen?

Lieut.-Colonel Sir VIVIAN HENDERSON (for the FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS)

No stone has yet been selected, and it has not therefore been possible to make any progress with the work of repair.

Mr. HARDIE

How can the hon. and gallant Member say that no stone has been selected, since it was published that a stone had been selected? If stone cannot be found from the ground, would it not be wise to try some of the synthetic stones, if for nothing else than to prove whether or not they would give more resistance to the atmosphere of London than ordinary stone taken from the ground?

Sir V. HENDERSON

It was stated that the Office of Works had selected Stancliffe stone as probably the most suitable; but that stone has to be referred in the first place to the Fine Art Commission to ascertain whether they see any objections to that stone in use with the existing stone in the building, and their reply has not been received. If they raise objections, I think those objections will have to be accepted. At the same time, it is necessary to refer the question to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to find out whether they consider that the mingling of the two stones would have any unfortunate effect. In certain cases the mingling of two stones does have an unfortunate effect. Their reply has not yet been received. When these replies have been received, it will be possible for the Office of Works to make further progress. In regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, I will have that considered.

Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

Has the Office of Works considered the suggestion which I made some time ago, without waiting for the whole of the repairs to be completed, that they might deal with the top of the central tower, which is now without a top and disfigures the whole of the Palace of Westminster? Could not that be done at once without great expense?

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not quite arise, and the question should be put on the Paper.