§ THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD STANMORE)My Lords, I beg to move that Standing Order No. 105 be considered in order to its being dispensed with in respect of this Bill.
§ Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
§ LORD STANMOREMy Lords, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Stanmore.)
THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURYMy Lords, it may not be inappropriate if I venture to say a 41 word on the Second Reading of this Bill as one of the trustees of St. Paul's Cathedral. As your Lordships are well aware, anxiety has been felt for long as to the security of the foundations of the Cathedral. You will remember that some years ago there was a very large scheme for the protection of St. Paul's and that a sum of about £400,000 was subscribed from all parts of the world for the preservation of the Cathedral. In the course of the inquiries then made it became obvious that the greatest danger lay in the foundations of the Cathedral, and that if various schemes were permitted to go through without examination or question there might be excavations made within the area immediately surrounding St. Paul's which might very gravely affect the foundations of the Cathedral itself. Accordingly the authorities of the Cathedral were very anxious that there should be a prescribed area around St. Paul's within which no one should be allowed to carry through schemes involving excavations, without their having been submitted to some competent authority.
The engineers who were consulted were quite clear that some such provision was really necessary to secure the preservation of the Cathedral, and the Corporation of London, who showed the greatest possible good will in the matter, are supporting this Bill. I am sure your Lordships will agree that it is of such immense importance that nothing should be allowed to jeopardise the stability of the Cathedral that you will look upon this Bill as involving a very great national issue. Those who have schemes which involve excavating within the prescribed area would not wish to proceed with them, if it can be shown by expert authority that they did involve the stability 42 of the great Cathedral itself. On the other hand, if they were assured that there was no danger they would be able to go on with their schemes with a quiet mind. I think it is only necessary to point out that this Bill does raise a question of national importance, and I very much hope it will go through.
VISCOUNT FALMOUTHMy Lords, I have to point out that the London County Council have petitioned against this Bill, but I hope you will not think that it is in any spirit of opposition to the measure. Certain questions arise under the Bill as to the protection of the main drainage service, which it is the duty of the London County Council, as statutory authority, to maintain. It is thought, however, that it will be possible to come to some arrangement with the promoters of this Bill in order that these rather serious objections may be met.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a.