§ 28. Mr. Bossomasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning the number of places that are being provisionally allowed for Members in the sketches that are being prepared of the restored Chamber for His Majesty's Commons on the main floor level; and how was this number decided upon?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning (Mr. Hicks)Survey and plans have been made of all the information available of the Chamber as it existed before the damage occurred. Certain very preliminary documents have been prepared but there are no sketch plans in existence which are intended to show the number of places to be provided or any drawings of the proposed rebuilding which have received sufficiently advanced consideration to be regarded as a definite proposal.
§ Mr. BossomIs not my hon. Friend aware that such plans are in existence and can be seen? I believe they are actually in this building at the present moment. Will he tell the House whether they provide seats more than 200 in excess of those in the original Chamber?
§ Mr. HicksSchemes that have recently been drawn up have been reproductions on a uniform scale of reseating plans prepared in the past by Sir Charles Barrie in approximately 1860, Mr. E. M. Barrie in 1890, and Sir John Taylor in 1893.
§ Mr. BossomCan the hon. Gentleman say anything about the plans being prepared at the Ministry of Works and Planning at the present time?