§ 35. Mr. HARRISasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what is the policy of his Department in the selection of architects for public buildings of first-class importance; how far their designing is now confined to officials in his Department; and whether he gives reasonable opportunity to eminent architects in private practice to submit designs for important public works so that the State should have the service of the best architects available?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Vivian Henderson)It is the policy of the First Commissioner of Works to utilise, as far as possible, the services of the architects in his Department for designing the public buildings for which he is responsible; but in the case of a building of outstanding importance, the desirability of giving eminent architects 1370 in private practice reasonable opportunity to submit designs is always carefully considered.
§ Mr. HARRISIs it not advisable for the nation to have the best available architects?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONYes. We have the advice of the best architects in the country when the erection of a building of outstanding importance arises, but I do not think, in the case of any buildings which the hon. Member has in mind, any serious results have happened in the past from not utilising the services of any particular architect. I cannot, of course, answer the question, because I do not know what he really has in his mind.
§ Mr. HARRISWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by buildings of outstanding importance—what money value?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONThe buildings I have in mind are those like the new Embassy at Washington, the new Government buildings in Northern Ireland, and the new Government building that was put up about 10 years ago in Whitehall for the Ministry of Health. Those are the kind of buildings I mean.