§ 49. Mr. DENMANasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the proposed quarrying operations to the south of the Roman Wall; and whether he will cause a Select Committee to be appointed to advise the House as to the desirability of taking immediate steps to preserve the land between the wall and the vallum from destruction?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENAt the moment I have nothing to add to the reply made yesterday to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Woolwich West (Sir K. Wood) and the hon. and gallant Member for Central Cardiff (Captain E. N. Bennett) by my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works, who, I understand, proposes to take an early opportunity of visiting the site.
§ Mr. DENMANIs my right hon. Friend not aware that the First Commissioner of Works has no legal power to deal with this matter, and would not a Select Committee perhaps provide him with authority that would give him the power?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am not aware of what the legal powers of my right hon. Friend are, and my hon. Friend surely cannot expect me, on the spur of the moment, to give a reply in regard to a Select Committee.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the work of demolition is now going on, and that sacrilege and vandalism at what I might call this holy place are endangering it?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am not aware of anything at all about this question beyond what appears on the Paper and in my reply.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELWill the right hon. Gentleman issue to the local authorities in Northumberland an intimation that any interference with this national monument will be regarded with grave disfavour by this House?