HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICES (Hansard, 15 May 1956)

§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)
My Lords, in the absence of the noble Earl the Lord Chairman of Committees, who I am sorry to say is not well, it falls to me to move that this Report be now considered.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now agreed to, and in doing so I think perhaps I ought to say a few words on 358 one or two of the items. Your Lordships will have seen the Report and will know, therefore, that on most of the items little comment is necessary. However, as to item No. 2, the War Memorial, your Lordships will have noted that the three Memorial Books containing the names of those who lost their lives in the two wars have now been placed in the embrasure in the Royal Gallery, in accordance with the original intentions. That involves some further consideration of what is to be done with the statue, which was originally there, or, at any rate, has temporarily been there. As your Lordships know, the statue did not meet with universal approval in the position in which it was, and it has therefore been necessary to give that matter further consideration. I can only assure your Lordships that when some conclusions have been reached you will have a further opportunity of approving whatever is then proposed.
There is then the rather important question for us all of the ventilation of the House. That is a matter which has been the subject of comment, and indeed of complaint, during the whole time that we have been back in this Chamber since the war, and a great deal of thought has been given lo it. Eventually, as your Lordships know, the matter was referred by the House to the House of Lords Offices Committee. I am glad to be able to report that arrangements have now been, made by which the fans in the roof can be accelerated and operated from Black Rod's Box. The present arrangement is that the fans are kept working at full speed throughout the morning and reduced in speed for the afternoon's sittings. The reason for the reduction in the afternoon is that when they are working at full speed they are audible. The speed can, however, be increased during the afternoon's sittings if the atmosphere in the Chamber becomes oppressive. Your Lordships will be glad to hear that some efforts, at any rate, are being made to improve the atmosphere.
I am also glad to be able to report that the Lord Great Chamberlain is carrying out experiments in lighting the windows from the outside of the House. I do not know whether your Lordships noticed it, but one afternoon earlier in the year one of the windows was lit for that purpose. It certainly improved the 359 appearance, and should be of great use later on in the year when it is dark earlier.
Then I come to item 5, which deals with the accommodation in the refreshment department. There have been some projected plans for improving this, which consist of the conversion of some of the rooms on the Terrace front, underneath the Library, into additional dining rooms. This idea has been considered by the Committee and has been given general approval, subject, of course, to the approval of the House. But there are other authorities who have to be considered, and it is possible that these plans cannot be carried out for some time yet. Apart from everything else, I think the present economic situation will not make it a particularly appropriate moment for spending large sums of money on an object of this kind. But there is no doubt that if and when these improvements are made they will be of great value to noble Lords and their guests.
Finally, there is one item about which I think I ought to say just a little more, and that is item 4. It relates to the Prince's Chamber, and a proposal with regard to the statute of Queen Victoria there. As your Lordships know, that statue is flanked by two other figures which are large and have often been thought rather to dwarf the central figure. They, I understand, were not part of the original design, but were brought in rather as an afterthought—at the time, but as an afterthought. Further consideration of this question, in which noble Lords with great authority and experience in these subjects took part, led the Committee to the conclusion that there was at least a case for removing these supporting figures temporarily, so that noble Lords should have the opportunity of judging how the central figure looks alone, as was the original design of the sculptor. The Committee recommend that proposal to the House in their Report.
I would emphasise that there is no suggestion that these figures should be removed from the precincts of the House. They would be taken downstairs and kept over such period as was necessary to enable noble Lords to look at the central figure without the supporting ones, and see which they prefer. I hope very much, if I may say so, that the House 360 will agree to this proposal, which is put forward merely to give the House an opportunity of judging between the two alternatives. The House will notice one other improvement in the Prince's Chamber, and that is the illumination of the pictures on the wall by special lighting thrown from the chandelier. I think there is no doubt that that has greatly improved the appearance of the room.
These are the only comments which I wish to make upon the Report, and I should once more like to move that it be approved.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH
I am obliged to the noble Marquess the Leader of the House for the care he has taken in expounding the Report. I know all about the matters he has so carefully put before your Lordships, and I hope that the House will adopt the Report.