§ VISCOUNT SIMONMy 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 are aware of a proposal to fill in a part of the ancient Queenhithe Dock in the City of London; and, if so, what is their reaction to this proposal.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I understand that such a proposal is contained in a planning application at present being considered by the City Corporation. Since the applicant has a right of appeal to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in the event of permission being either refused or granted subject to conditions, I cannot comment on the merits of the proposal.
§ VISCOUNT SIMONMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord for that reply. May I ask him whether he is aware that Queenhithe Dock is probably the only remaining feature of Saxon London, and whether he would agree that it would be a great pity, if permission is granted for building a hotel on the banks of this dock, that they should encroach upon this remnant of Saxon London?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I am informed that Queenhithe Dock is an indentation in the banks of the Thames and that that indentation was there in Saxon times. I am further informed that the brickwork which lines this dock is of late 19th century origin and therefore not of such historic interest as perhaps it might seem.
§ VISCOUNT SIMONMy Lords, I was only asking whether the noble Lord was aware that the indentation in the banks was created by people in Saxon times as a landing place for goods coming to London.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, from what I understand—I am not making any comments about it—I am informed that the indentation would not disappear if planning permission were granted. In fact, a sluice gate would be 612 put there and whether the tide was in or out there would be water in the indentation at all times.
§ LORD ARWYNMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord why he is interested in Saxon times? Surely London was built before the Saxons came here.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think that we are straying a little wide of the Question.