§ Mr. PERKINSasked the First Commissioner of Works the total number of times the electric supply has failed in the House during the last 10 years; and whether, in 885W view of the recent failure and many others, he will arrange for both Houses to be lit by gas?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREPrior to the recent occasion, the electricity supply has failed within the last 10 years on two occasions only when this House has been sitting, namely, on 24th November, 1927, for one hour, and on 19th December, 1933, for two minutes. The electricity supply also failed on one occasion in 1934 for 40 minutes when this House was not sitting.886W I am, of course, much concerned that the business of this House should at any time be interrupted owing to a failure in the lighting arrangements, but, unless and until I am convinced that the risk of failure is likely to increase rather than to diminish, I do not consider that I should be justified in incurring the heavy expense either of substituting gas for electric lighting in the Chamber itself or of providing an emergency supply either of gas or electricity.