§ 17. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give an assurance that the 10-year programme of internal reconstruction in the British Museum designed to be completed by 1970 will be carried out.
§ Mr. PrenticeOn present plans, the programme of work outlined in 1961 will be completed by the end of 1971. No undertaking has ever been given that it would be completed by the end of 1970.
§ Dame Irene WardIs the Minister aware that I was merely giving him the opportunity of chopping a year off? Is he not rather silly not to be able simply to say "Yes" for once?
§ Mr. PrenticeNo, Sir. I think that as a programme was agreed with the British Museum and as the programme is up to date, there is no reason for the line taken by the hon. Lady in her supplementary question.