§ 40. Mr. Thurtleasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will refrain from taking any steps to have the equestrian statue of the late Field-Marshal Earl Haig erected, in view of the lack of unanimity regarding the merits of this work and also of the fact that there is no general public demand for a memorial in this form?
§ Sir P. SassoonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. ThurtleDoes not the First Commissioner think it abnormally foolish even for this Government to spend time and money on erecting a statue which nobody wants?
§ Sir P. SassoonI am afraid I have not the power to reverse a decision taken by this House. I believe it was the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury), then First Commissioner of Works, who, as long ago as 1931, told the sculptor that he had full sanction to go ahead with the work.