§ 2.48 p.m.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy 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 there is any condition which absolutely prevents London from restricting the height of new buildings in certain locations (as was actually the regulation for many years when this was maintained for many years without the slightest difficulty) so preventing any further disrupting of the sight to—and from—the historic architectural monuments and places within the Whitehall square mile.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, there is no condition which absolutely prevents a restriction from being placed on the height of new buildings in certain locations in London. But I am not aware of any absolute restriction in the past. I assume of course that my noble friend has the London Building Acts in mind. These, as he will no doubt recall, originally required the consent of the London County Council to the erection of buildings in excess of 80 feet. This was subsequently amended to 100 feet. However, these Acts have never contained a veto on such buildings. There is no change in this respect to-day. The consent of the Council has still to be obtained under the London Building Acts. In addition, it is now necessary to obtain planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Could he possibly explain what the community gains by allowing destruction of the privacy that has always existed of some of our most important residences in this town, which privacy is now being destroyed by these high structures?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I should find that very difficult to explain in brief question and answer. I would, with diffidence, suggest to my noble friend that if he looks at the Order Paper he will see an Unstarred Question for tomorrow standing in the name of his and my noble friend Lord Albemarle, dealing with this general subject. I would suggest to him that it would be easier 868 to expand on the whole general question then, rather than in necessarily rather brief answers now.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, while again thanking my noble friend for that answer, I hope I shall have an oppor tunity of speaking to-morrow. But, in any event, I think this situation is getting quite unbearable and intolerable in many ways to-day, and if the Government do not take some action——