§ 31. Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the estimated cost of the reconstruction of all official residences in Whitehall excluding Nos. 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street; and how many residences will be provided when the work is completed.
§ Mr. PrenticeI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and the hon. Members for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) and Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 23rd May, 1966.
§ Mr. CookeDoes this represent a roaring success in the Ministerial housing drive? How many more residences are planned? What was the cost of the furniture and decorations in those already occupied?
§ Mr. PrenticeThe figures referred to have been given. I think that the pro- 22 vision of these residences in Admiralty House was a sensible use of a building of great historic and architectural interest. It made sense that someone should live there. This was a decision made by the Tory Government, but they wanted to provide only one residence there and we took a more democratic view and turned it into two residences.
§ Mr. AllasonWould the right hon. Gentleman consider providing an official residence for the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell)?
§ Mr. ShinwellSince this matter has been raised without my having received any notice, may I ask my right hon. Friend, when these matters about official residences for Ministers, grace and favour residences and so on are raised, whether we can go into the whole subject and see how it affects the friends of many hon. Members opposite?
§ Mr. PrenticeI would always be glad to debate any of these matters. As to my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), I think we have had plenty of evidence that he is well able to take care of himself.