PUBLIC BUILDINGS, GREAT BRITAIN. (Hansard, 2 April 1928)

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
On page 52 there is an item for the provision of a new pavilion, but rather meagre information is given.

§ Sir V. HENDERSON
It refers to the item above.

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
Is that the pavilion for the Institute of Mental Defectives?

§ Sir V. HENDERSON
Yes.

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
I understand. May I refer to page 58—Maintenance and Repair of Ancient Monuments? I wish to ask whether the Government will now be able to remove the wire fence at Stonehenge which I and many other Members consider disfigures that very ancient monument. I do not wish the hon. and gallant Gentleman to answer me now, but I hope he will represent the matter to the First Commissioner of Works, as he knows that a number of public-spirited people have subscribed towards the removal of many of the disfigurements. I think that the next step should be to remove the wire fence. I believe that the public can be trusted not to abuse the privilege at Stonehenge. One reason stated for the need of the fence was that it would keep away the cattle. I understand that there will be no cattle in the vicinity of the stones in the future. Therefore, the wire fence might be removed, and I shall be glad if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will make that representation to the First Commissioner. What is the item on page 60 of the Civil Estimates of £500 for stores at Osborne in respect of? What is Osborne used for now?

§ Sir V. HENDERSON
Osborne is used as a home for invalid officers.

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
In that case, I am sorry the money is not more.

§ Sir V. HENDERSON
My Noble Friend, the First Commissioner of Works, was down at Stonehenge on Saturday. I have not had an opportunity of seeing him since, but he is looking into the matter that the hon. and gallant Gentleman has raised.

§ Mr. MORRIS
May I ask a question? On page 58 there is an estimate for the payment of £1,170 to the Bucks County Police authorities for providing police protection at Chequers. It seems an exorbitant amount to pay for police protection 1752 at Chequers. How many police officers does that money provide for and what is the character of the police protection obtained for that sum?

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
I hope the Liberal party are not going to object to the provision of proper protection for the Prime Minister's residence so long as it is needed. The least we can do is to provide protection for the Prime Minister. When I called attention to the expenditure of £60,000,000 on the Navy, the hon. Gentleman the Member for Cardigan (Mr. Morris) was not in his place, and now he comes forward with this pettifogging complaint. Surely to goodness the Prime Minister should be allowed to have all the reasonable police services he needs.

§ Mr. MORRIS
It is not that the Liberal party object to the provision of protection. All we want to know is what it is in respect of. We are equally as anxious as the Labour party that the Prime Minister should be properly protected.

§ Mr. MACLEAN
From whom does the Prime Minister need to be protected—the Liberal party or the Tories?

§ Sir V. HENDERSON
When the Prime Minister is in residence at Chequers, or wherever he may be, police protection is provided by the Metropolitan Police in the ordinary way as part of their duty in the protection of Ministers, but it has also been decided—it was decided some time ago—that even when there is no Minister at Chequers it is desirable that the building should receive special protection, because of its great historic value. The reason £20 is provided more than last year is because it has been decided that officers of longer service and greater experience should be employed.