§ Lord Lee of NewtonMy 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 entrance to the Norman Porch is not accessible to visitors.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, the pavement beneath the Victoria Tower was closed as a precaution, while a canopy was erected to give protection from any stone that might fall from the upper half of the Tower before it could be properly inspected. The canopy has now been erected and the Norman Porch was re-opened on 31st March.
§ Lord Lee of NewtonMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that Answer. Will he agree that, in part, it contains the Answer given to a Question for Written Answer which I was supposed to ask last Monday week but which, in fact, was asked last Tuesday week by the noble Lord, Lord Mowbray and Stourton? In that reply it was stated that the state of the Victoria Tower was pretty dangerous. In the course of the reparations that are now to be made and which will take a considerable period of time, will the noble Earl ensure that attention is paid, first, to the state of the Victoria Tower?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, the inspection proper of the upper parts of the Victoria Tower will start on 27th April and it should be possible to complete that by June. Subject to what is found during the inspection, we can then go forward.
§ Lord Lee of NewtonMy Lords, although I have the greatest respect for The Times and the Guardian, will the noble Earl ensure that in future they do not give the Answer to a Question before that Question is asked?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I apologise to the noble Lord for jumping the gun.