§ Q2. Mr. Tilneyasked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government will offer a site in Parliament Square or elsewhere for a statue to the late Sir Winston Churchill, subject to suitable arrangements being made for defraying the cost of making and erecting such a statue.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I said in my reply to an earlier Question by the hon. Gentleman on this subject on the 14th of May last year, these are matters in which the House prefers to move by agreement. Although some publicity was given to the hon. Gentleman's proposal at the time of my earlier Answer, there has not so far been convincing evidence of broad support for it, either in the House or among the public generally.—[Vol. 764, c. 1030–2.]
§ Mr. TilneyDoes not the Prime Minister agree that there is no statue to this very great man in the centre of London that the public can see? Those who remember his splendid speeches would 1116 like to see such a statue before we are all dead. How can we find out whether there is public support unless there is a public appeal and discussion as to where the site should be.
§ The Prime MinisterI agree that there is no statue as yet but no doubt there will be in due course when there is sufficient public demand for it. The hon. Gentleman has had a number of Questions on the Order Paper on this matter, which have resulted in publicity. Answering those Questions, I made it clear that I would be glad to receive representations from any right hon. or hon. Members in the House or from any other sections of public opinion on this matter. But so far there has not been the response which the hon. Gentleman hoped for when he first raised the matter.
§ Mr. SwainWould my right hon. Friend consider an application to build a statue in Parliament Square to the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) to frighten the pigeons away?