HC Deb 03 November 1980 vol 991 cc951-2
21. Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can now arrange a date for work to begin on repairing, restoring and cleaning the Palace of Westminster, and in particular to ensure the safety of the structure.

The Chancellor of The Duchy of Lancaster, Leader of the House of Commons and Minister for the Arts (Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is considering the Services Committee's fourth report—1979–80—of the survey of the stonework. He has agreed that urgent repair work should go ahead. The timing of a major stone cleaning and repair programme depends on the availability of funds.

Mr. Janner

Is it not poor economy to allow the Palace of Westminster to continue to decay, when every year that goes by multiplies the cost of putting it right? When will the right hon. Gentleman conclude his consideration of the Select Committee's report and start work?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I am not responsible for the programme. Questions should be addressed to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Janner

What about the arts?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

It is not a matter of arts. It is a matter of the structure of the building. All apparently dangerous stonework in areas in regular use has been removed, and the work already approved by my right hon. Friend who has responsibility in this matter should ensure that the external structure is safe.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Does my right hon. Friend look in occasionally on the Palace of Westminster during recesses? If he does, does he agree that one often finds the whole place being torn up by the roots? Is it not about time that our unfortunate constituents who are taxpayers should be stopped from being taken to the cleaners every time we leave this place? Should not the redecoration and reorganisation that occurs every time we go into recess also be put into recess?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I shall pass on that observation to the appropriate quarter, but a certain amount of renovation for wear and tear, particularly in places such as the Division Lobbies and the Staircases, is necessary.