HC Deb 15 March 1951 vol 485 cc1761-2
51. Mr. Hollis

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement concerning the consultations which have led the Commissioners of Crown Lands to the conclusion that Carlton House Terrace is not suitable for embassies, clubs, flats or hotels.

Mr. T. Williams

The future of these buildings has on many occasions been the subject of consideration and consultation between the Departments concerned. The only formal consultation on user was with the Crown Lands Advisory Committee in 1933. That Committee recommended residential user, which included embassies and clubs of good standing. They stated that, while they would reject blocks of flats on redevelopment and would rigidly exclude hotels, they would not object to the conversion of any existing house into flats. The Commissioners considered several schemes for conversion into flats, but none of these schemes was approved and the Commissioners were professionally advised that the satisfactory conversion of these houses into flats must be considered impracticable.

The Commissioners have not regarded the houses as unsuitable for embassies or clubs, and some of them were, in fact, let for those purposes before the war; but for other houses, lessees for embassy or club use were not forthcoming, and the Commissioners reached the conclusion that there was no prospect of letting all the houses for those uses.

Mr. Hollis

Is the Minister aware that while there will be a good deal of sympathy with him for being in the peculiar position of having to answer for Carlton House Terrace—I am not sure whether he does so in his capacity as Minister of Agriculture or Minister of Fisheries—nevertheless, the serious point is that his statement seems to be in very great contradiction to the statement made the other day in another place by a Government spokesman? Surely we should know where we stand.

Mr. Williams

If the hon. Gentleman will bring to my notice any contradiction between my statement and that made in another place, I will be glad to look at it, but I rather doubt if that is so.

Mr. Bossom

Does this mean that the Government are abandoning the assurance given by the Pick Committee, a few years ago, that no change would be made in the general character of Carlton House Terrace before approximately 1960 or 1962—I cannot recall which was the date?

Mr. Williams

It would perhaps be better if that question were put to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works.