§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what inquiries were made by the City Council of Portsmouth concerning a proposal to fill hi the moat at Long Curtain Battery to a height of approximately three feet above ordnance datum level and to grass it; and whether, in view of the concern that the moat should, as an alternative, be cleaned and made fully tidal, he will give consideration to representations from local bodies to this effect and receive a deputation from the Joint Committee for the Preservation of Historic Portsmouth.
§ Mr. C. PannellThe city council gave my Department an outline of these alternative proposals last week, and my officers have since attended a meeting at which the Joint Committee for the Preservation of Historic Portsmouth were also represented. So far as I am aware the city council has not yet reached any final conclusions and I must reserve comment until detailed plans are received. In these circumstances, although I am naturally ready to consider any representations from the joint committee, I think it would be premature for me to receive a deputation.