HL Deb 19 August 1835 vol 30 cc669-70
The Earl of Wicklow

begged to ask the noble Viscount opposite (Lord Duncannon) whether any steps had been taken towards preparing a more convenient House for their Lordships before next Session?

Lord Duncannon

said, that since the question had last been before the House, the other House had voted a sum to defray the expense of a temporary building for their Lordships' accommodation. Since that time he had had many communications with several of the architects upon the subject. He expected shortly to be able to give instructions whether the building should be proceeded with or not. Meantime he might state that Sir Robert Smirke had given in his estimate under the impression that the building should be proceeded with at once, whereas now the greater part of the building season had passed, and the estimate for building, during the short days, would be necessarily higher.

The Duke of Richmond

suggested to their Lordships that it was really not worth while to go to the expense of building a temporary House. It was true, that the present House was inconvenient, but the other might be equally so. He was fully sensible of the liberality with which the House of Commons had come forward, on ascertaining that their Lordships were inconvenienced in their present place of meeting, but he hoped that their Lordships would not avail themselves of the offer made, but would continue to occupy the present House until a permanent one was built.

Lord Duncannon

thought the best way would be to re-appoint the Committee, and refer the whole matter to it. He would therefore move that a Select Committee be appointed to consider the Report upon any plan submitted to it for the erection of a temporary House of Lords.

The Marquess of Lansdowne

stated, that in the event of a temporary House not being built for the accommodation of their Lordships, there was an understanding that as the other House was better provided with accommodation than their Lordships, a preference should be given to their Lordships' House, and it should be first built.

Motion agreed to.