§ Sir S. HOAREasked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in the interests of smoke abatement, it is the policy of the Government to substitute central heating for open fires in Government offices; and, if so, what progress is being made with the substitution?
§ Mr. LANSBURYIt is the policy to instal central heating in all new Government buildings and gradually to substitute central heating for open fires in existing buildings in cases where, after taking into account interest and sinking fund charges in respect of the capital expenditure involved, some considerable economy would result. Provision has been made in the Estimates (Class VII) for 1931 for several cases of the latter type.