HL Deb 22 May 1963 vol 250 cc285-6

2.15 p.m.

LORD WALSTON

My 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 the plans for the new building to be erected on the St. Thomas's Hospital site have been finally approved: and whether arrangements can be made for Members of both Houses to see the drawings of the proposed elevation.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HEALTH (LORD NEWTON)

My Lords, building of the first stage has started and detailed planning of the remainder is proceeding. The design was approved by the London County Council as planning authority and accepted by the Royal Fine Art Commission. A model, drawings and photographs were displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall in December, 1959. A model is on display at the Building Centre, Store Street, W.C.2.

LORD WALSTON

I am grateful to the noble Lord for that information, and regret that I was not here in 1959 to see the model. May I ask the noble Lord whether he is now satisfied that, under the future arangements which have been discussed in your Lordships' House in the last few days, it will be possible, in the event of buildings being contemplated along this very important waterway and central theme of London, for an overall plan to be evolved and administered so as to make sure that the city makes the best possible use of what could be a very beautiful feature of it?

LORD NEWTON

I understand the import of what the noble Lord has asked me, but I think it is a very much wider question than the original Question, which relates to the new hospital which is to be built for St. Thomas's.

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, although this particular Question relates solely to St. Thomas's, would the noble Lord not agree that it would be very unfortunate if planning permission and approval, even by such an excellent body as the Royal Fine Art Commission, were confined solely to individual buildings such as St. Thomas's Hospital, instead of taking into account the wider aspects of developing natural beauties?

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, this is a very much wider question. Certainly it is an important one, but I do not think it arises from the noble Lord's original Question. I do not think, therefore, that I ought to try to answer on such a very big issue without notice.