HC Deb 21 July 1959 vol 609 cc1041-3
6. Mr. C. R. Hobson

asked the Minister of Works if he will make known to Members, by means of a nameplate, the identity of the person whose portrait now hangs in Room 15 of the Palace of Westminster.

Mr. H. Nicholls

Presuming the hon. Member is referring to Committee Room 15, he will note that the nameplate has now been attached. The subject is the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury.

Mr. Hobson

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that we are very grateful for that reply, because the absence of a nameplate for this picture of this venerable and honoured gentleman had been a continuous source of worry to Members of the Select Committee on Estimates, particularly the hon. Member for Farnham (Sir G. Nicholson) who, I understand, is a Member of the Arts Committee? Will the hon. Gentleman now see that this picture of the Earl of Shaftesbury is put in a more prominent part of the Palace of Westminster, in view of the history of the eminent gentleman?

Mr. Nicholls

Yes, I will certainly pass on the suggestion the hon. Member has just made. It is true that my hon. Friend is most assiduous in carrying out his duties as Chairman of the Art Committee.

Sir G. Nicholson

The hon. Gentleman who asked this Question might have seen this nameplate for some months. I think he has not been assiduous in his attendance in Committees.

7. Mr. C. R. Hobson

asked the Minister of Works if he will remove the portrait of Sir Charles Barry, R.A., in the Members Tea Room or have it reframed.

Mr. H. Nicholls

The portrait was hung in this position with the approval of the Advisory Committee on Works of Art. The existing frame is the original one and is, therefore, historically correct.

Mr. Hobson

Is not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this is a very ugly and heavy frame and not conducive to the friendship and bonhomie of the Tea Room, and could he see that it is now transferred to the Whips' Room—I do not care of which party?

Mr. Nicholls

This is a portrait of the architect of the Palace of Westminster after the Great Fire. I think it is to its credit that it has withstood having oranges, eggs and all sorts of things like that, in close proximity to it without any of them having been thrown at it as yet.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the hon. Gentleman taking no steps to deal with the problem of overcrowding of pictures in the Palace of Westminster? We can hardly move for pictures.

Sir G. Nicholson

Is my hon. Friend aware of two things, firstly that the Advisory Committee is very glad to receive suggestions from the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. C. R. Hobson), and secondly, that there is no intention in the mind of the Committee of restraining the licence which he normally enjoys in the Tea Room? This picture may need better lighting, but it is a beautiful picture and we thought, in view of the fact that the subject is the architect of the Palace of Westminster, that it should be in a place where Members frequently congregate.

Hon. Members

Resign.

Mr. Nicholls

My hon. Friend may note the fact that the picture has been lit on the advice of the Advisory Committee and that has taken away, I think, from the heaviness of the frame.