LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is intended to re-erect the Decimus Burton Lodges at the entrance to Hyde Park at present being destroyed.]
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, in connection with the Park Lane Improvement Scheme, it is necessary to remove four lodges originally designed by Decimus Burton. Two of these, Cumberland Lodge and Grosvenor Gate Lodge, still retain their original pattern and will be re-erected within the new boundary of Hyde Park as near to their original positions as possible. The other two lodges at Stanhope Gate have been extensively altered and are not now considered of sufficient merit to justify the very considerable expense of re-erection.
VISCOUNT ESHERMy Lords, has the noble Earl consulted the Royal Fine Art Commission as to whether these lodges are valuable?
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, the Royal Fine Art Commission were consulted, and they at first suggested the re-erection of the Stanhope Gate Lodges inside the new park boundary. But in view of all the circumstances they did not press the point.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his reply, which is at least partially satisfactory. May I ask whether he realises that very considerable easing of mind will be caused by his statement to-day?