§ 27. Mr. Hordernasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will remove the Registrar General and his staff 1263 to other premises, in order to allow Somerset House to be used as a national gallery for art.
§ Mr. AmeryI have recently visited Somerset House and my hon. Friend will appreciate that I sympathise with the suggestion. I must have regard to the practical difficulties and the cost of providing alternative accommodation for any of the Departments now housed in the building.
§ Mr. HordernI am grateful for that reply. It must be possible to use Somerset House, one of the most beautiful buildings in London, for a more useful purpose than housing the Registrar-General and the Census team. Will my right hon. Friend undertake to hold a serious review of the locations of all Government offices in London in these days of rapid communications and of rising property values?
§ Mr. AmeryYes, Sir; I can give my hon. Friend a positive answer on his general question, but I am also carefully considering the whole question of Somerset House.