Windsor Castle (Central Heating) (Hansard, 16 February 1960)

§ 34. Mr. Wyatt
asked the Minister of Works whether he will ensure, before allowing the Windsor Castle heating installations to be converted to oil, that every alternative heating method using coal or coke has been examined with the National Coal Board and the British Coke Industry Association.

§ Mr. H. Nicholls
The scheme for an adequate central heating installation at Windsor Castle was designed some years ago and an oil-fired installation was decided upon after careful consideration of all the circumstances. It is now some months since this contract was let and the work is too advanced to consider changing the system. In the case of new schemes it is the current practice of my Department to consult the National Coal Board before deciding on the heating method.

§ Mr. Wyatt
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say why his Ministry did not consult the Minister of Power before the arrangement was made? Is he aware that what is now being done is to compare a modern oil-burning installation with an old-fashioned coke installation? Does he not know that there are many modern coal- and coke-burning systems which are cheaper to use than oil-burning systems and that they also eliminate the use of labour? Is he further aware—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Progress will be better if hon. Members keep silent.

§ Mr. Wyatt
Is the Parliamentary Secretary further aware that, even though money may have been spent on this oil installation, it is still possible to convert it to coal- or coke-burning without any increase in expenditure? Does he not realise—[HON MEMBERS: "Speech."]—that the conversion of the Windsor Castle heating system to oil-burning will be taken as a very grave insult by miners who will suffer a very grievous blow to their morale?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. It is manifest that the hon. Member's supplementary question is too long. Mr. Hector Hughes.

§ Mr. Wyatt
On a point of order. Even though my supplementary question was made too long by the interruptions of hon. Members opposite, it is not as long as many other supplementary questions that have been asked this afternoon. Furthermore, am I not entitled to a reply, because this is a very important matter?

§ Mr. Speaker
I am sorry, but I have an obligation to try to help the House to cut these supplementary questions shorter. I am sure that from time to time I make mistakes, because one goes on listening to a long question hoping that it is coming to an end. It is therefore difficult to be fair about it.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
Further to that point, surely it would be right and proper to allow the Parliamentary Secretary to reply. My hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt) asked a number of important questions.

§ Mr. Speaker
The position is that if the question is out of order there is no need for a reply, but I should like to give the Parliamentary Secretary an opportunity of answering before we go on to the next Question.

§ Mr. Nicholls
I assure the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt) that we do compare like with like and that the advisers at the Ministry of Works have detailed knowledge of the relative merits of all forms of heating. The structure of Windsor Castle, the availability of a storage place for coal and questions of amenity all show that an oil installation would be the most satisfactory.