HC Deb 05 July 1965 vol 715 cc1111-3
34. Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what system of prefabrication he has evolved for raised temporary seating accommodation for official functions.

Mr. C. Pannell

Prefabrication is used to the fullest possible extent, but no one system is used.

Mr. Hill

Does not the present system of scaffolding, which has to be cut to length, seem somewhat wasteful of labour, time and raw materials? Could not the Ministry devise some equipment which could be more rapidly erected and dismantled, especially where the dimensions of the erections are the same annually, as in the case of the stands on Horse Guards Parade?

Mr. Pannell

I do not know what case the hon. Member has specifically in mind, but in the case of the recent 700th anniversary ceremony in Westminster Hall it was impracticable to adopt full prefabrication because the stands had to be made to precise dimensions to suit the Hall. However, the tubular scaffolding and fittings, as well as the chipboard sheets used for the flooring, were all of standard sizes and were taken away for re-use by the contractor. We are continually seeking improved methods of erecting temporary seating.

Mr. Allason

Has the right hon. Gentleman studied the Dexion system, which looks like gigantic meccano and is already used widely in Government Departments for racking and would be extremely effective for this purpose?

Mr. Pannell

I have not studied it, but I have no doubt that it has not escaped the notice of my Ministry.

36. Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give the number of seats provided, their total cost and the average cost per seat for the temporary stands erected for the Trooping the Colour and the septencentenary celebrations in Westminster Hall, respectively.

Mr. C. Pannell

For the Trooping the Colour ceremony, 6,640 seats at a total cost of £8,240 and an average cost of about 25s. per seat. For the 700th Anniversary celebrations in Westminster Hall, 1,800 seats at a total cost of £4,200 and an average cost of about 46s. per seat.

Mr. Hill

In the case of Trooping the Colour, would the Minister confirm that the cost is covered by the charges? In view of the comparatively high average cost, would he not follow the suggestion of my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Allason) and investigate whether there are any means of having equipment which would do the job more easily and quickly? We know that it will be required at any rate once a year on Horse Guards Parade and, we hope, on many occasions.

Mr. Pannell

We look into all these sort of things. It is true that Horse Guards Parade is used about once a year for Trooping the Colour. The use of Westminster Hall is a rarity, but the cost of all the arrangements for Westminster Hall will be met by the Treasury from their Miscellaneous Expenses Vote, which will be presented to the House as a Supplementary Estimate on this account later this month. The hon. Member refers to the Westminster Hall celebrations. He will find that the cost works out over the 700 years at less than 1d. a seat per year for the ceremony.

Mr. David Steel

Can the Minister say whether the average cost per seat for Trooping the Colour includes the cost of the involuntary dyed red human seats?