§ Mr. Goldieasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he is aware of the unnecessary damage to public and private buildings throughout the country caused by the methods now employed in the removal of iron railings and similar erections required for war purposes; and whether, with a view to the prevention of such damage, he will take steps to terminate forthwith existing contracts for such removals and arrange for the necessary work to be carried out by local authorities under the supervision and control of their surveyor?
§ Mr. HicksWith regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Faversham (Sir A. Maitland) on 26th February and the hon. Member for Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson) on nth March. As regards the second part of the Question, where local authorities have been prepared to carry out the removal of railings on a reasonable fixed price basis, the work has been entrusted to them. This system operates satisfactorily and will be extended wherever possible.