§ 6. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Works what progress has been made in the repair work on Kensington Palace; and whether the work will be completed by the end of the current financial year.
§ Lord John HopeA contract has been let. The work will begin shortly and is expected to take about twelve months.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes the Minister recognise that an announcement was made yesterday by his Department about the extravagantly increased expenditure on this house? Is this part of that contribution he is making to the solution of our national economic problems of which he spoke in answer to Question No. 3? Does he not think it a deplorable priority sense that at this time, when there are thousands of homeless in London, this kind of money should be spent on this apartment?
§ Lord John HopeI do not believe that I should be making any contribution at all to the national interests if I let a building like this deteriorate any further. It has been deteriorating for over twenty years, and it is high time something was done to restore it.
§ Mr. PagetIs any contribution being made by the prospective tenants, in view of the fact that they appear to be fairly amply provided for both publicly and privately—
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that supplementary question is out of order.
§ Mr. SpeakerI thought that the hon. and learned Gentleman's supplementary question implied, in its use of the adverb "amply" a reflection upon the occupants of that building. That is why I thought that it was out of order.
§ Mr. PagetWith great respect, Mr. Speaker, is it out of order to ask whether a contribution is being made by the prospective tenants, in view of the fact that provision is being made for them by this House and, as we learn, by private contract?
§ Mr. SpeakerIf, by the use of the adverb, the hon. and learned Gentleman was not making the type of reflection I thought he was, I accept it entirely from him and, in that event, the supplementary question is not out of order.
§ Lord John HopeThe answer is, as was stated in the relevant notice to the Press, that private contribution will be forthcoming above the sum of £85,000 so long as this is not the result of what we call building hazards. If we find dry rot or anything we do not know is there, that would not rank for private contribution; anything else would.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that no one has suggested that this building should be allowed to remain in its present state; that what we are complaining of is that it is to be used to house someone who is already housed—and that in a city where there are thousands of people still waiting for houses but with no prospect of getting them?
§ Lord John HopeI must answer for what I am constitutionally responsible, and nothing else. It has nothing to do with me what use is made of grace-and-favour buildings. I am responsible, as far as I can be, for putting a building like this into repair, and I am sure that it is right to do it now rather than to wait longer.
§ Mr. HamiltonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the extremely unsatisfactory nature of those replies, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.