§ 70. Mr. Anthony Greenwoodasked the Minister of Works whether he will consider the possibility of replacing the paintings in the corridor leading from the Chamber of the House of Lords to the Chamber of the House of Commons with specially-commissioned ones of greater artistic value and more in keeping with the dignity of a Royal Palace and the home of democratic government.
§ Mr. MolsonThe paintings in the Peers' and the Commons' corridors were the result of recommendations of a Royal Commission on the Fine Arts set up in 1841 under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness, The Prince Consort, to consider whether advantage might not be taken of the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster to encourage the fine arts. The Commission decided which artists should be employed and the subjects they should paint. My right hon. Friend warmly agrees that the artistic merits of the paintings are questionable but he doubts whether a change could be made without arousing much controversy.
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§ 80. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Works, whether he will commission artists to paint pictures to supplement those which already decorate the Royal Palace of Westminster and to record events in Parliamentary history more recent than those already recorded.
§ Mr. MolsonIf there were evidence of a general desire for such pictures and funds were available, I would consult with the authorities of the Palace of Westminster about providing them.