St. Stephen's Hall (Repairs)

HC Deb 23 February 1960 vol 618 c172

12. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Works for how long the internal temporary shell in St. Stephen's Hall is likely to remain.

Lord John Hope

Until the end of the Summer Recess.

Mr. Sorensen

Does the Minister appreciate that, meanwhile, this very prosaic approach to the Central Lobby and the respective Houses is not at all encouraging to overseas visitors, who have the idea that this is the best that we can do in the circumstances? Cannot he speed the matter up?

Lord John Hope

It is being speeded up as much as possible, but, as so often happens in a case like this, as the hon. Gentleman will realise, more was found wrong than was suspected when the work began. So far as the appearance of St. Stephen's Hall is concerned, I agree with him, but one hopes that visitors from overseas will, with their quick intuitiveness, realise that this is something temporary.