§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANMy Lords, I beg to move the Second Reading of this Bill. A Bill of this kind comes before your Lordships almost every year as extensions of telephone and postal facilities are required. This Bill has been passed already in another place. It is to enable the Postmaster-General to acquire land for the extension of the head post office in Leeds and for telephone exchanges in Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne and Denton, and also in Uxbridge and Warrington, and to give power to construct a subway under a disused burial ground in Mount Street, Mayfair. This subway is to enable an automatic telephone exchange to be opened in Farm Street. Every effort will be made to protect the trees and the amenities of the ground which, although it is a disused burial ground, is now very largely used as a pleasure ground, as some of your Lordships may know. The roof of the subway to be constructed is to be at least sixteen feet below ground and it is not anticipated that any of the bodies buried there will be interfered with. In case of any interference Clause 16 of the Bill provides that they shall be decently and reverently buried somewhere else. The Westminster City Council have given their consent and Clause 7 has been introduced to protect that council. If any of your Lordships desire further information as to any of the sites I shall be very glad to give it, but this Bill was passed without any opposition in another place and I do not think there will be any objection to it here.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Lucan.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed.