§ 2.40 p.m.
§ LORD GRANTCHESTERMy 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 whether, as the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation has backed strongly the scheme for constructing a car park underground and for the building of two petrol stations with 12 petrol pumps on the surface of Finsbury Square as an "inexpensive" contribution to the solution of London's traffic problem, his support can be relied upon for a similar scheme in Parliament Square which would enable an "interesting experiment" to be more closely observed and provide convenient refuelling facilities for Members of both Houses of Parliament.]
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, the position in Finsbury Square is not, in my right honourable friend's judgment, 862 in any way parallel to that in Parliament Square. While, therefore, it would be premature to reach a definite conclusion, in the absence of a specific proposal, my right honourable friend does not think it probable that Parliament Square, which has only recently been developed in its present form, would be a suitable site for the "interesting experiment" which the noble Lord has in mind.
§ LORD GRANTCHESTERMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his Answer. May we take it that there is no desire or intention on the part of the Minister to seek powers to override the Acts of Parliament passed in 1906 and 1931, which protect London's squares? May I ask also whether Finsbury Square has been selected for this experiment because it is the only square in the Borough of Finsbury—on the principle that if you have only a little you can do without it altogether?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDI think the noble Lord will have his own ideas about the last part of his question. So far as the first part of his question is concerned, I think the answer is that there is no intention.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKCan the noble Earl give the House an assurance that this Finsbury Square experiment, as it is called, will not prove a precedent for other vandalistic schemes of this nature, not only in London but in Edinburgh and elsewhere?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDI think perhaps the noble Viscount must be in some ignorance of the scheme itself, because, as I understand it, it is far from being vandalistic. In fact, a very notable landscape architect is to be responsible for the final layout.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKWith great respect to the noble Earl, is he not aware that there are a great number of people who think that it would be vandalistic?
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHIs the noble Earl aware that there is not a landscape architect in existence who can make a petrol pump look pretty?
§ LORD STONHAMIs the noble Earl aware that, whilst this is the only square in Finsbury, it is at present a wilderness; and that when this scheme has 863 gone through it will be the most beautiful square in London, with a tennis court and bowling green, neither of which amenities at present exists in Finsbury?