HL Deb 21 November 1966 vol 278 cc7-8

2.48 p.m.

EARL FERRERS

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 to state the inclusive cost which was incurred in installing the air-conditioning system in the House of Lords.]

LORD HILTON OF UPTON

My Lords, the final cost is not yet available, as there is still a little work to be done below the Chamber, but the total cost of installing the system will be about £140,000. This cost is reasonably near the provisional estimate of £130,000, as shown in the 1966–67 Estimates.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. At a time of financial crisis would he not consider that this was an appalling waste of money?

LORD HILTON OF UPTON

My Lords, I will leave that to the judgment of each Member of your Lordships' House. I would, however, point out to the noble Earl that the arrangements for doing this work were made during the term of office of the previous Government. Indeed, I believe that the first half of the improvements (and I think the majority of the Members of this House will agree that they are a great improvement) was almost completed before the Labour Government came into office. So if there was any waste of money, as the noble Earl has suggested, it was really started by his own colleagues. When I saw this Question on the Order Paper I thought the noble Earl was going to congratulate the present Government on carrying out the policy of his Government.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, was the work not subjected to a great deal of examination such as the TSR2 project was when the Labour Government first came into office?

LORD AILWYN

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware—and I do not suppose he is, of could be, sitting there, cosily, on the Front Bench—that we on the humbler Benches have been suffering for weeks past from a hurricane of cold air whistling up our trouser legs? And, although it is better to-day, may I ask whether some control is eventually going to be found regarding this pestilential innovation in your Lordships' Chamber?

LORD HILTON OF UPTON

My Lords, it is true that I have heard similar complaints from the other side, but my colleagues on this side can mostly manage to keep away from that sort of draught. The point is, however, that any complaints such as this—and, after all, this work has only recently been completed—are not my responsibility and should be addresed to the Chairman of the Administration Committee. I think it is natural that we should expect teething troubles.

LORD AILWYN

Touché, my Lords.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, would my noble friend not agree that gusts of cold air are probably preferable to gusts of hot air?