HC Deb 23 February 1960 vol 618 cc163-4
7. Mr. F. Noel-Baker

asked the Minister of Works what steps he now proposes to take to remove the Royal United Service Institution from the Banqueting Hall at Whitehall, to furnish the building appropriately, and to permit the public to enjoy its classical architecture and Rubens panels.

Lord John Hope

I cannot yet add to my replies of 17th November, 1959, to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) and 8th December, 1959, to the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. McLaren)

Mr. Noel-Baker

Cannot the Minister at least say that he will have a word with the Georgian Group and other bodies interested in this building? Very excellent work having been done on restoring the ceiling, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it ought to be possible to admire the place without squeezing oneself in between models of the Battle of Waterloo which would really be better housed elsewhere? Would not Inigo Jones, Rubens and King Charles I turn in their graves if they knew what was happening at the present time?

Lord John Hope

The hon. Gentleman would be giving these two incumbents the wrong impression if he tried to suggest that no one was trying to do anything about it. As he knows, it is not an easy passage, but I can assure him that I am trying to help.