§ 2.38 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their present intention to re-erect in Parliament Square the Memorial Fountain to the abolitionists of slavery, which was taken down during the improvements to the Square; and, further, whether they will consider an alternative suggestion—the fountain being ugly and out of keeping with its surroundings—namely, that a plinth of Portland stone, keeping the old inscription, or alternatively a statue of an, African boy, be placed in the West enclosure outside the Middlesex Guild-hall, between the statues of Lincoln and Canning, and thus as near as possible to the old position of the fountain.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRE-TARY, MINISTRY OF WORKS (LORD MORRISON)My Lords, I am informed by my right honourable friend the Minister of Works that no decision has yet been reached as to an alternative site for the Memorial Fountain which, under the Parliament Square (Improvements) Act, 1949, will have to be re-erected either in Parliament Square or on an alternative site approved by both Houses of Parliament. My right honourable friend shares the noble Lord's view that it would be inappropriate to re-erect the Fountain in the Square as now laid out. It would be difficult, if only for reasons of scale, to adopt the noble Lord's suggestion of another statue, but my right honourable friend the Minister of Works will consider how best to record the fact that the Memorial Fountain once stood in Parliament Square and the great act of liberation which it commemorated.
LORD NOEL-BUXTONMy Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for his under-standing and helpful reply, I would ask him whether he will further consider my suggestion for a monolith of Portland stone on the West side of the Square to commemorate the abolition of slavery. It seems to me very important that there should remain in the Square some kind of memorial to the great people who brought about that reform.
§ VISCOUNT SIMONMy Lords, may I put this question arising out of what has been said by the noble Lord, Lord Morrison? Whether or not the suggestion made in the Question of the noble Lord, Lord Noel-Buxton, should be approved is possibly, a matter for further consideration, but I should like to ask the noble Lord, Lord Morrison, for an assurance that the Government and his right honourable friend the Minister of Works have fully in mind the appropriateness and importance of having in this precinct a record of the great men who, as a result of a whole generation of Parliamentary effort, secured the abolition of the slave trade and the abolition of slavery under the British flag. I submit that to omit such a record from Parliament Square or the immediate precincts would show a grave disregard for one of the greatest Parliamentary achievements, and one of which we are all proud.
§ LORD MORRISONMy Lords, if the noble Lords would allow me to answer both supplementary questions together, I would say that in view of the uncertainty about what is desired in order to carry out the intention of the noble and learned Viscount and the noble Lord, Lord Noel-Buxton, with which my right honourable friend and I entirely concur, I feel that the best I can do is to suggest that all parties concerned should give further consideration to the solution of the problem. With the agreement of Lord Noel-Buxton and the noble and learned Viscount, I am prepared to arrange further consultation, in order to try to agree upon some permanent record of the great act to which the noble Viscount has referred being placed in Parliament Square or in the near vicinity—one which will be in keeping with the rest of the Square.
§ VISCOUNT SIMONMy Lords, may I ask this further question, though I realise it is not for the noble Lord himself to 852 answer? Will he convey to his right honourable friend the Minister of Works the desire of some of us, at a moment convenient to the Minister but as soon as possible, to come in deputation to him, when perhaps he will be good enough to discuss the matter with us with a view to arriving at an agreed conclusion?
§ LORD MORRISONYes, I will cer-tainly convey that request to the Minister.