HL Deb 06 July 1955 vol 193 cc454-5

2.39 p.m.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to remove the massive and hideous structure erected during the war behind the Admiralty.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)

My Lords, as the noble Lord is aware, this extension of the Admiralty was erected in 1940. It is of specially strong construction and its removal would be very expensive. The possibility of demolishing it has not yet been considered, but my right honourable friend intends to examine the matter in detail and will naturally give consideration to the noble Lord's views.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his reply. Arising out of it, I should like to ask the Government whether they will bear in mind, first, that this building is monstrously ugly in itself, and secondly, that it obstructs what used to be one of the finest vistas in London. Why cannot it be pulled down on esthetic grounds, as the French pulled down the old Trocadero building in Paris?

THE EARL OF MUNSTER

My Lords, the question of whether this building is ugly and monstrous and destroys one of London's vistas is a matter of opinion. As regards the second question, it is true that the French Government pulled down the old Trocadero, but the noble Lord will recollect that it was used for concerts, exhibitions and the like, which was something far different from what the Citadel at the Admiralty is used for. Nevertheless, I will convey the noble Lord's observations to my right honourable friend who, no doubt, will take them into consideration.