§ 34. Mr. Bowen Wellsasked the Lord Privy Seal if the New Buildings Sub-Committee will consider the question of subway access to the Palace.
§ Mr. BiffenI will draw the matter to the attention of the right hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Mr. Silkin) who is Chairman of the Sub-Committee.
§ Mr. WellsDoes my right hon. Friend share my sense of shame at the filthy condition of the Bridge street 17 underpass to this place? It is the approach that is most used by both British and overseas pedestrian visitors to the House. It is full of the most disgraceful dirt on the floor, ceiling and walls, and is rarely cleaned. It is frequently filled with faeces, both human and canine, with the appropriate smells. It is a cause for extreme shame when we are showing visitors to this country the Mother of Parliaments. Will my right hon. Friend arrange to have something done immediately about those deplorable conditions? In particular, is it possible for a subway to be built between the House and the underground in preparation for the new buildings in Parliament Street?
§ Mr. BiffenMy hon. Friend clearly feels deeply about these matters, but his questions go somewhat wider than the original question. I understand that the cleaning of the subway is the responsibility of Westminster city council, but I will investigate the point.
§ Mr. BiffenI believe that the cleaning is part of municipal activity.
I shall take note of what my hon. Friend has said, because his question has evoked a wide response in the Chamber today. I shall write to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. TraceyIn considering the matter of access to the House from remote offices, will my right hon. Friend consider the problem of access from the Dean's yard offices? Access is often blocked by large numbers of tourists in the Abbey pathways and by the lack of a pedestrian crossing to the House.
§ Mr. BiffenThat question definitely goes very wide of my hon. Friend's question.