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Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1938, for Expenditure in respect of Royal Palaces, including a Grant-in-Aid.
§ 8.39 p.m.
§ Sir p. SassoonThis is a token Vote of £10, and I should like to explain to the Committee that it is in connection with a new heating system which is being put in at Hampton Court. As my right hon. Friend opposite knows, for over half a century the State apartments at Hampton Court have been disfigured by the very ugly iron pipes that have run round all the State rooms. They have made it very difficult to furnish them, and they have made the general aspect of those rooms particularly unsightly. Unfortunately, they did their work well, and while they continued to do their work well, it was difficult to get money from public funds for them to be replaced. I am glad to tell the Committee that a donor has come forward—he wishes to remain anonymous—who has very generously consented to defray the cost of this new heating. The work is being done in two sections, and this year it is hoped that we shall be able to instal the new heating system in all the State rooms on the south and east sides, while next year we shall do this on the back portion. 1016 Not only will this new system be put in, but we shall be able to re-hang the tapestries, and the Keeper of the King's Pictures will be able to effect a re-hanging of the pictures.
§ Mr. ViantI think the Committee would be interested to have the information as to what type of heating apparatus is being installed. I anticipate, having visited Hampton Court on one or two occasions, that it will be a hot water system, but I want to know whether it is an electric system that is being installed or whether it is still a hot water system.
§ Sir P. SassoonIt is a hot water system. It will consist of panels in the floors about five feet wide and from five to 14 feet long, I believe, and these will be fed by tubes. The heating will be by hot water. Over that there will be matting flush with the floor, which will not in any way take away from the power of the heating system, but at the same time will conceal it in a decorative manner.
Mr. J. J. DavidsonCan the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the secret donor who is giving £6,990 will not be entitled to interfere in any way?
§ Sir P. SassoonIt is the kind of interference that one might welcome on this occasion.
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Resolved,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1938, for Expenditure in respect of Royal Palaces, including a Grant in Aid.