HL Deb 23 January 1973 vol 338 cc4-5
LORD INGLEWOOD

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 what is the estimated cost of the building works now being undertaken, or that are in an advanced state of planning, above and below ground, on both sides of Bridge Street, in order to improve the facilities and amenities of Parliament; and whether they will state which of these works will be for the benefit of the House of Lords.

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, the estimated cost of building works now being undertaken or in an advanced state of planning is approximately £4.43 million. Of this sum, £1.2 million is for the benefit of your Lordships' House. This includes the extension to the Peers' Dining Room; additional accommodation to be provided by infilling; improvements in the Moses Room; and a closed circuit television annunciator system for this House. This estimate does not include the proposed new Parliamentary building in Bridge Street.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply (and also paying tribute to our improved telephone system, which was not mentioned by the noble Lord), may I ask whether Members of the House of Lords are likely to get any benefit from the large and expensive underground car park or the building on the other side of Bridge Street.

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, that will be a matter for discussion between the appropriate committees of each House.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, does the noble Lord mean that this money was spent before any such discussion took place?

LORD SANDFORD

No, my Lords, What I mean is that it is up to the appropriate authorities of each House to decide matters of this kind.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the noble Lord hold out any hope that as a result of the development on the other side of Bridge Street noble Lords in this House may have access to some reasonable office accommodation, and thus set aside the thought, commonly widespread, that we are second-class Members of Parliament?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, the original Question relates to works in hand or in an advanced stage of planning. The proposed new Parliamentary building is in an early stage of planning, and I do not think that at the moment that question arises.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, since it is in its early stages, perhaps the noble Lord can give us some encouragement.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, I should like to ask what are possibly two helpful questions. Can the Minister give us a clear guarantee that, as a result of the works being carried out in New Palace Yard, Big Ben will not one of these days come tottering down? Secondly, does he not think that the Government have already done enough in undermining Parliament politically to do away with the task of undermining it physically as well?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, all these trends are being carefully monitored. As to Big Ben, it has been about eight to nine inches out of true for most of its life, and the movements have not been a result of the work that is going on at the moment.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, bearing in mind the Leaning Tower of Pisa, would not the noble Lord agree that this would be a great tourist attraction?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, it already is.