HC Deb 01 March 1960 vol 618 cc1005-6
5. Mr. C. Johnson

asked the Minister of Works whether he is now in a position to state when the arcade on the east side of Westminster Hall is to be rebuilt as part of the stone restoration programme of the Palace of Westminster.

Lord John Hope

No. Sir.

Mr. Johnson

Would the right hon. Gentleman seriously consider this question again, and also take advantage of the opportunity which it would afford, as suggested by the Select Committee on House of Commons Accommodation in 1954, namely, to build out over Star Chamber Court in a way which would provide a large additional room for hon. Members on the principal floor?

Lord John Hope

That last point is rather a different one. The actual rebuilding of the arcade, about which the hon. Gentleman asked, will certainly have to be done one day, but it is not urgent at the moment.

Mrs. Castle

But is not the Minister aware that a proposal to rebuild the arcade, with writing rooms over it in order to meet the urgent need of hon. Members for accommodation, has been under consideration for many years now? Does his reply mean that the Minister has rejected the proposal or that he has just gone to sleep on the matter?

Lord John Hope

No, Sir. If there is any somnolence I suggest that it is on the part of the hon. Lady who has not read the Question, which relates to the stone restoration programme of the Palace of Westminster, to which I was trying to confine my Answer without prejudice to anything else.