§ 56. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the First Commissioner of Works if his attention has been called to the disfigurement of the Houses of Parliament caused by new stones being placed in the walls beside old ones; and whether he will consider employing men to clean the entire walls so as to present a uniform exterior?
Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. LAMBERT WARD (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. The slight disfigurement, if it may be so called, is, in any case, only temporary as may be judged from an examination of the effect of exposure during the past three years on the work carried out to the south front. The old stonework is washed when the portion of the building concerned is under repair, but no attempt is made to restore the original colour, nor does the First Commissioner consider it desirable to do so. He does not, therefore, think it necessary to incur the additional expenditure which would be involved by the adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman ask the First Commissioner of Works to examine the Houses of Parliament where they have been repaired in this way, and then to go 1258 and look at Westminster Abbey, where they have put into force; the idea that I asked should be done here with the Houses of Parliament, and I think he will see that it should be done, because otherwise it is going to be a piebald job?
§ Sir A. LAMBERT WARDI will certainly ask my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner.