HL Deb 07 February 1978 vol 388 cc925-6

2.43 p.m.

Lord BOYD-CARPENTER

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 when they propose to rebuild or rehabilitate Wellington Barracks.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, work on Wellington Barracks is currently being restricted to a project to rehabilitate the façade block. This project is now at an advanced stage of contract action, and it is expected that work will start later this year and be completed by early 1981. The restored buildings will be occupied by elements of the Household Division.

Lord BOYD-CARPENTER

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that moderately encouraging reply, but may I ask whether he will give the fullest urgency to this project? Does he appreciate that the air of decrepitude of this fine building on one of the most conspicuous sites in London gives a very bad impression, not least to the mass of tourists who congregate in that area?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

Yes, my Lords. The noble Lord is quite correct, and this is one of the reasons why Her Majesty's Government have been so anxious to get on with at least rebuilding the façade, which was in fact designed from the Engineers' Handbook in 1830 something, or probably a little earlier. The point is that, in the days when defence was under pressure and was a tail element rather than a teeth element, this was hardly considered necessary. But the situation is now changing and something like £2¾ million is being applied to smartening up the façade of the old Wellington Barracks.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware—though there is no conceivable way that he could be—that Wellington Barracks was condemned as unfit for human habitation in the year that my grandfather joined the Grenadiers, which was 1871, and that even by our standards this is rather slow?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, if my recollection is right, the Conservative Administration returned in 1970, and was it not in that year that the decision to refurbish and extend the existing barracks was taken? If so the noble Lord's grandfather must be suitably pleased.

Lord SHINWELL

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that I am fully acquainted with the conditions at Wellington Barracks and have known about them for a long time? But what will this project cost and, if we have to choose between this project and raising the pay and emoluments of the whole ranks of the Forces, should that not be number one priority, even if the accommodation has to be endured for some time longer?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, my noble friend is entirely correct. This is the background of the delays by Her Majesty's Government. The sum involved for this present stage of the operation is £2¾ million, and I am certain my noble friend will not deny that this is desirable for the creation of the proper picture of the Park which this will bring into being.

Viscount ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, is not the façade of a barracks a rather suitable building in which to put the façade of an army?