§ 31. Mr. GROVESasked the First Commissioner of Works why coalite is supplied for use in the House of Commons while coal is still supplied to the House of Lords?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)Coal is supplied instead of coalite to three special rooms in the House of Lords in deference to representations made by the Lord Great Chamberlain's officers. Coalite is provided otherwise throughout the Houses of Parliament.
§ Mr. GROVESIf we make representations for coal to be used here, shall we get it?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am proposing to review the whole matter after we have had a full year's experience, and judge by the expense, the heating qualities and other things.
§ Mr. GROVESWhy did not the right hon. Gentleman try it in the other Chamber for a year? If there are tests here, why should not there be tests there?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is used throughout the greater part of the House of Lords. There are three rooms, largely passage rooms, where it was considered inadvisable that this particular fuel should 1110 be used. I have had a great many representations that hon. Members prefer this new fuel to the old.
§ Mr. GROVESDoes the right hon. Gentleman refer to the Princes Chamber as a passage, because that is where the coal is used?
§ Mr. N. MACLEANHas the right hon. Gentleman received no representations from any Members of the House of Commons regarding the non-heating qualities of the coalite used?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREYes, I have received some, and I have received others to the contrary effect.
§ Mr. MACLEANCan the right hon. Gentleman say why he has made alterations in deference to representations made by the House of Lords, but has made no alterations in the House of Commons in deference to our representations?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI gather that no alteration has been made since this experiment was started. These three rooms were exceptions.
§ Mr. McGOVERNDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that if hon. Members showed a little more enthusiasm they would require less artificial heat?