§ Sir C. COBBasked the First Commissioner of Works (1) whether, when removing the tennis courts, on the determination of the existing contract, from the Botanical Gardens, he will replace them in a more suitable position, such as the open area of Crown property surrounding Bedford College., between that building and Clarence Gate bridge:
1543W(2) whether, when he removes the tennis courts from the Botanical Gardens to a more suitable part of the Regent's Park, he will redesign the vacated space as an old English garden and invite the public to present appropriate specimens of lead pastoral figures of the Roubillac school or other decorative statuary or garden urns and pillars for bestowal in recessed vistas and boscages?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI should make it clear that I am not committed to the removal of the tennis courts referred to. I have already given an assurance, in reply to previous questions, that I will consider the possibility of so doing on the expiration of the existing contract for their use, but the area between Bedford College and the Clarence Gate bridge is the subject of a lease to Bedford College, and is not under my jurisdiction. If the space occupied by the courts is vacated, I will give due weight to my hon. Friend's suggestions.