§ Sir Dudley SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the heating system was on full strength in Norman Shaw North on Monday 23 April; what was the outside temperature for the main part of the day; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chope:[holding answer 3 May 1990] The highest outside temperature recorded on the roof of the Palace of Westminster on 23 April was 17.2 degrees centigrade. The heating was still on then because neither the House authorities nor the Parliamentary Works Office considered that the weather had settled sufficiently for the boilers to be shut down. Once the boilers have been shut down it is not possible to reheat the building quickly when there is a subsequent drop in temperatures. The situation was reviewed on 30 April and the boilers were then shut down for the summer.