THE EARL OF AIRLIEasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have noticed that in column 1006 of Hansard of Wednesday the 26th July, the Earl Jellicoe replying for the Government mentioned that in many cases he has sought the advice of the Royal Fine Art Commission; and whether the Government consider that the advice of the Fine Art Commission is always good, as, for example, in the case of the United States Embassy and of lamp standards throughout all towns, which apparently were put?n front of the Commission and passed by them.
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (EARL JELLICOE)My statement was made in connection with the design and siting of tall buildings in London. On this and similar questions the Royal Fine Art Commission, of which the noble Lord, Lord Bridges, is Chairman, are available to advise both the Government and local authorities, and I am glad to acknowledge the valuable service which they perform in a field where there cannot, in the nature of things, be a single objective standard by which proposed developments can be judged.
The Royal Fine Art Commission do not approve the design of lamp standards, though in special cases they advise on siting and design. Lists of approved designs have been issued by the Street Furniture Panel of the Council of Industrial Design, and local authorities have been recommended to adopt designs from these lists.