HC Deb 16 March 1927 vol 203 cc2017-8
41. Miss WILKINSON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the installation in certain modern office buildings of apparatus for the ozonising of the air; whether he is, aware that such experiments have resulted in improved health and intelligence of the staff; and whether he would be prepared to consider the installation of similar apparatus, in: the House of Commons in view of the unsatisfactory state of its present atmosphere?

Captain HACKING

The answer to the, first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second and third parts, the First Commissioner has no-definite information regarding the result-of the experiments referred to by the hon. Member, and he is not convinced that the installation of the suggested apparatus in the House of Commons would have the desired result.

Miss WILKINSON

Would the hon. and gallant Gentleman be willing for an experiment to be tried, say, in the Lady Members' room in the House, where the atmosphere is particularly bad, in order to see whether such an experiment would be likely to be successful?

Captain HACKING

The hon. Member suggests that such an experiment would result in improved health and intelligence of the Members. I am sure you could not improve the intelligence of the Lady Members.

Miss WILKINSON

Would not the hon. and gallant Gentleman be willing, at least, to have the health of the Lady Members improved, and then go on to deal with the intelligence of Members?

Captain HACKING

What I meant to say was that I could not improve their intelligence, and I should hope I could not improve their health.

Sir H. BRITTAIN

Is it not a fact that the atmosphere of the House of Commons has improved very much since the last Parliament?