HC Deb 01 August 1957 vol 574 cc1516-8
Mr. Walter Elliot (by Private Notice)

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on certain additional recommendations of the Committee appointed to advise on the memorial to the late Earl Lloyd-George.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

Yes, Sir. In addition to its proposals regarding the Lloyd-George statue, the Committee under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend drew attention to the fact that there is as yet no memorial in the Palace of Westminister to the late Earl of Balfour. They pointed out that a suitable site exists in the Inner Lobby and hoped that the appropriate steps would be taken.

The Government feel that they should give effect to the unanimous recommendation of this Committee. I propose, therefore, as soon as is convenient, to move a Motion of the usual kind in the House to this end.

Mr. Elliot

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask whether he has taken account also of our other recommendation, that so far as possible the Inner Lobby should be left for memorials to Prime Ministers?

The Prime Minister

That is very much a matter for the House itself and not for me to decide, but I think it should be considered.

Mr. Grimond

While welcoming the projected return of Mr. Balfour, may I ask the Prime Minister whether, if he is looking into the siting of statues in general, he will reconsider the position of Keir Hardie outside the Tea Room, where he does not look his best?

The Prime Minister

This is a matter in which, very properly, the House jealously preserves its own rights. What happened was that a Committee was appointed, and I would not have thought it right to accede to this if it had not been a unanimous recommendation of the Committee. I felt, therefore, that when I put forward the Motion it would be likely to commend itself to the House as a whole.

Mr. Shinwell

Will the Prime Minister consider the removal of the Keir Hardie bust from its present location to a more suitable location?

Mr. Ellis Smith

On the Table.

Mr. Shinwell

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the very wise suggestion made by my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith)? Apart from that, would he not agree that there are more suitable sites for this bust?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir, I understand that it stands where it is by recommendation of the appropriate Committee. I am not sure that the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion would command the same unanimity. I would, however, always act on the advice of the Committee and I think that that is really the best method in these matters. I will certainly see that attention is called to this question when we come to the appropriate Committee to review these problems.

Mr. Nicholson

As chairman of what my right hon. Friend calls the "appropriate Committee", may I ask whether he is aware that it is difficult to find suitable sites, particularly when a bust is in bronze and most of the busts in the House are of stone? The Committee will be only too glad to hear the views of other hon. Members, because the only desire of the Committee is to suit the wish of Members as a whole.

Mr. Gaitskell

Would it, perhaps, be convenient if the appropriate Committee could produce a report setting out the problems that arise in connection with these statues, so that we can consider the whole problem and not just the question of the Earl of Balfour?

The Prime Minister

I will look into that. I understand that the Committee is one that advises Mr. Speaker, but perhaps we could have a discussion on the vexed question of statues and see whether we can reach general agreement.