§ 36. Mr. Tilneyasked the Minister of Works what plans he has in hand to improve the look of the Admiralty Citadel for those passing along the Mall or Horse Guards Parade.
§ The Minister of Works (Mr. Nigel Birch)As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary announced in the debate on the Adjournment on 27th October, more Virginia creepers are to be planted, and the old gun emplacements will be removed.
§ Mr. TilneyEverybody will be grateful for what the right hon. Gentleman has said, but will he consider a little more variety in plants than just Virginia creeper? As an experiment—so that the sides can be covered more quickly—will he endeavour to plant a few creepers on the roof?
§ Mr. BirchIt is a hideous building, but whether it would be improved very much by trying to make it like an old-world tea garden, I rather doubt.
§ Mr. StokesIn view of the fact that the kind of bomb which is likely to hit the building is entirely different from the kind of bomb which it was designed to resist, will not the right hon. Gentleman look into the whole matter and perhaps chip bits off the structure so as to make it less unsightly?