§ 40. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will, after due restoration of the stonework, take steps to hand back to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey the Chapter House, to mark the 900th anniversary of the foundation.
§ Mr. BoydenNo, Sir.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerAs this building is not used by the Ministry of Works but is kept open as a museum, will the hon. Gentleman have another look at this? It will provide the Minister with his sole chance of being canonised.
§ Mr. BoydenPerhaps the hon. Member has in mind the celebrations to mark the 900th anniversary of the Abbey's foundation next year. My Department is making the Chapter House available for the whole year to the Abbey authorities. They have not made any request of my Department for this.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerHas the Minister any objection to the Abbey authorities having this building back? It was taken over on the dissolution of the monasteries and is not being properly used for the purpose for which they would use it.
§ Mr. BoydenThis building has a very long tradition of association with Parliament. The first Parliament met there. It was then used as a public record office and in later years it has been visited by a great many people. There have certainly been no demands of any sort that it should change its caretakership, as it were, from my Department.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerIt, has an even longer history—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.