HC Deb 05 July 1965 vol 715 cc1106-8
21. Mr. Robert Cooke

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he proposes to take to ensure the stability of the exposed wall of Westminster Hall, from which the buttresses have been removed, following the demolitions in Star Court.

Mr. C. Pannell

I am assured that the wall is stable.

Mr. Cooke

Will the right hon. Gentleman take it from someone who has some knowledge of this that there might be difficulties, especially as on some days workmen seem to be messing about with chisels on the site?

Mr. Pannell

I presume that the craftsmen working on the job know what they are doing. The wall did not depend in any way on the arcade which has been removed preparatory to the construction of the new building in Star Chamber Court.

Mr. English

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many hon. Members would not object if he managed to make a considerable portion of it fall down provided that he rebuilt it to modern standards?

Mr. Thorpe

Can the Minister give the House an assurance that there will be no interruption with the flow of light into Westminster Hall by reason of this building being built on the side of it?

Mr. Pannell

We paid particular attention to that. I do not know where the model is at the moment, but if the hon. Gentleman wants to see it I shall make it available to the Liberal Party.

Mr. Thorpe

Can we keep it?

33. Mr. Ramsden

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he proposes to take the opportunity afforded by the works in Star Court to remove the buttresses on the exposed east wall of Westminster Hall and subject this wall to careful archaeological examination and restoration.

Mr. C. Pannell

No. I am not proposing to remove the buttresses, but an archaeological examination of the wall is being carried out.

Mr. Ramsden

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that there will be wide public interest in anything that may be discovered about the nature and date of the original fabric? Will he consider the possibility even- tually of treating some of the original stonework in a similar way to that in which the Tudor brickwork of the Old Treasury has been treated, so that it could remain visible for people to see in the future?

Mr. Pannell

I sometimes think that the most distinguished servants in my Department are the Inspectors of Ancient Monuments. They have a particular nose for this sort of thing. The wall will be largely hidden by the new building shortly to be erected in the court, but if the original masonry is revealed by the archaeological examination we will restore the visible part of it.