§ Lady Saltoun of Abernethy asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What furniture and fittings surplus to the requirements of this House are in storage at public expense.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Hesketh)My Lords, there is very little furniture and fittings from the Palace of Westminster in storage. As a matter of policy the Parliamentary Works Office retains only the furniture made to Pugin designs, modern office furniture in good condition and fittings which can be reused.
§ Lady Saltoun of AbernethyMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Can he say what happened to the previous carpet from this Chamber, to the furniture from the Peers' Guest Room and to the beautiful flowered loo from the new ladies next door to the Prince's Chamber, on which the plug seems to have been pulled? Many noble Lords would have been glad to pay a market price for some of those items.
§ Lord HeskethMy Lords, I am under the impression that the carpets are reused. If there is deterioration the better part is kept and used, for example, to put round a corner or in some suitable place. I believe, though I am not sure, that in regard to the Victorian loos, some parts were kept for reuse. Certainly the remaining lavatories seem to be working well and are in good condition.