HC Deb 20 December 1965 vol 722 c1664
20. Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what proposals he has for a new building to house the Foreign Office.

The Minister of Public Building and Works (Mr. Charles Pannell)

The proposals are as outlined in my statement of 3rd November.

Mr. Campbell

Is the Minister giving high priority to this matter, as it is generally agreed that the present building is inconvenient and unsuitable for offices?

Mr. Pannell

Nothing that the hon. Member has said so far is as strong as I opined from the benches opposite and have confirmed during my time in office. We have given this matter the highest possible priority. As I have said, we hope as soon as possible to appoint a first-class architect in private practice, with Sir Leslie Martin as the overall planning consultant.

Mr. Robert Cooke

Does not the Minister agree that the present Foreign Office is a slum largely due to overcrowding? Will he consider providing another building on the other side of the road to provide for the vast amount of office accommodation that is required and then reorganise the interior of the existing building?

Mr. Pannell

As to the question about the other side of the road, we are looking into that one. But I do not agree with the hon. Member about the Foreign Office itself. I do not think that it is capable of that sort of treatment. This is a view which was taken by my predecessor and the former Government. When I came into office, I went through the whole question de novo, took a great deal of advice and came to the same conclusion. When the two Front Benches are in such agreement, who is the hon. Member to quarrel?