§ 2.46 p.m.
§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy 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 why the fountains on the lake in St. James's Park are not working.]
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, half of the cascade at the Buckingham Palace end of the lake in St. James's Park is temporarily out of action while repairs are being carried out to the pump. Otherwise the fountains have been working for the usual period each day. Arrangements have now been made for the times of operation to be altered and the hours extended for the rest of the summer.
§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that very helpful Answer. May I make two points with regard to that?
§ SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: No.
§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether she is aware of two cogent reasons for keeping the fountains going as continuously as possible: first, for the benefit of amenity in hot weather; and, secondly. that unless the fountains are kept working the water will not be oxygenated sufficiently in hot weather to keep the fish life alive in a stationary pool of water of that kind, which would be greatly to the detriment of everybody.
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, I am indeed aware of the problem of oxygenation of water for the fish, and this is a large part of the reason why we have the fountains. The second reason is, of course, decorative. I regret that I did not hear the first part of the noble Lord's question.
§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that she has answered my two questions?