§ LORD AMULREEMy 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 can say what steps are to be taken to expose, preserve and display those portions of the mediǽval wall of the City of London which as a result of the war came to light in Noble Street and between the church of St. Giles Cripplegate and London Wall.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, my right honourable friend is gladly making expert advice and technical assistance available to the responsible authority, the City of London Corporation, in connection with their imaginative proposal to repair, consolidate and, later, display these remains.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his quite encouraging reply. Can he possibly give me some idea when something will be done—when the work on the proper exposure will be started?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, progress is necessarily slow. It is a question of fitting in the work having regard to the many and complex factors which arise in the redevelopment of this part of the City and which are not in the control of the Department. It is therefore impossible to say when the work will be completed. We have already seen work started in the Noble Street area, and the next portion to be treated will be the part of the wall running East and West to the South of St. 806 Giles. Although timing is not the Deparment's responsibility I should expect that the City, who have to work with the developers and the builders, might approach us this year, in the spring.