§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy 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 they are considering any proposals for rebuilding Wellington Barracks.]
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, it is proposed to rebuild Wellington Barracks after those in Chelsea and Hyde Park.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, can my noble friend tell me whether Her Majesty's Government appreciate the importance of the scale and the fine façade of the Barracks as seen from the Park? Can he say whether these will be preserved under the scheme?
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, that is a subject which my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for War has very much in mind. In such matters he consults the planning authorities and the Royal Fine Art Commission. No decision has been made, because the rebuilding of Wellington Barracks cannot be started for another four or five years. The plans have not at present been settled in detail, but I can assure my noble friend that Her Majesty's Government recognise the importance of the appearance of these Barracks in Birdcage Walk.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANMy Lords, could the noble Earl assure the House that, when rebuilding comes to take place, a distinguished architect will be employed, as was done with the earlier plans which came to nothing before 1939?
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, may I also ask my noble friend whether he can assure the House that Her Majesty's Government will keep in close touch with the Royal Fine Art Commission? And can he perhaps say why the matter is going to take so long?
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, so far as the last question is concerned, I think it is rather wide of the Question on the Order Paper, but if the noble Earl would like me to do so, I can find out for him and let him know privately. As regards the question that the two other noble Lords have asked me, certainly very close touch will be kept with the Royal Fine Art Commission, and in the same way I am certain that the best of architects' advice will be obtained. The reason why rebuilding will take so long is the fact that the Brigade of Guards can release only one Barracks at a time in London; therefore it is proposed to do Chelsea and Knightsbridge first and then Wellington afterwards.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, may I ask one more supplementary question of my noble friend? While agreeing, of course, that a distinguished architect should be employed for anything new that has to be created, I hope that this does not mean that the existing very fine façade is going to be destroyed.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, I think my noble friend may be assured, from what I have already said, that there will be no major alteration. Should it be found, by reason of the modern requirements of troops, for whom we all want better conditions in barracks, that some slight alteration is necessary, it will be fitted in with the major part of the existing façade.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, has this matter been examined from a reasonable financial point of view? In view of the size of the present Army Estimates, are the Government satisfied that this can be afforded?
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, once again I think that that is quite outside the scope of this Question.