HL Deb 11 February 1986 vol 471 cc98-9

2.57 p.m.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much restoration work on the Palace of Westminster remains outstanding.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, as far as the outside of the Palace is concerned, the stonework restoration programme will be more than half complete once the river frontage is finished this autumn. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will shortly consider what work should be tackled in the next stage of a continuing programme which it is hoped will be complete in the early 1990s. Within the Palace, the ceiling over the Peers' Lobby has been made structurally secure and work on the Throne is continuing apace.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that detailed and interesting Answer. Does he agree that the completion of the work on the Clock Tower has been a most spectacular stage in the work on the Palace? Does he also agree that the work which has continued virtually uninterrupted since the end of the war in 1945 is a most notable achievement for everybody concerned, architects and craftsmen alike?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I know that the Property Services Agency, which has suffered a number of brickbats in the recent past, will be delighted by my noble friend's comments. I certainly agree with him that the Clock Tower is a magnificent achievement, as is the work being conducted in the Chamber. With regard to his comment on the time-scale, I would point out that the present programme started in 1979 and, as I said in my main Answer, is due for completion in the early 1990s.

Baroness Birk

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the longer the work on the Victoria Tower is delayed the more it will cost, and that it will probably be put off again and again? He said that the ceiling in the Peers' Lobby had been made secure, but is he aware—he must be—that the ceiling has been scaffolded for a considerable time? Will he confirm that it is not envisaged that funds will be made available in 1986–87 for its restoration and the completion of that work? Is this not extraordinarily unsatisfactory? Will the Minister urge his right honourable friend to make funds available in 1986–87 for work in a very central part of the Palace of Westminster that is very much used by both Houses?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, so far as the Victoria Tower is concerned, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will shortly he considering what work should be tackled next. He is fully aware of the importance of getting on with the work to the Victoria Tower, which is the last remaining external area of the Palace to be dealt with under the programme. But he also has to bear in mind that the estimated cost of this would be in excess of £4 million. As to the scaffolding in the Peers' Lobby, final structural repairs have still to be completed. The decorative ceiling panels have been removed and will be restored off-site this year. When they will in fact be put back, I am afraid I cannot tell the noble Baroness. Nor can I comment on her assertion that funds will not be available in the next financial year.

Baroness Birk

My Lords, in that case, will the Minister please make it known, not only to myself but to the House, whether this is not, as I understand it, envisaged to be budgeted for in 1986–87? This is of the greatest importance as we are only at the beginning of 1986.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I think I have already answered that question in that I have admitted that I am unable to answer it. However, I shall put the noble Baroness's point of view before my right honourable friend.