§ Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of the number of members of the public who have caused wear to the carpets of the Chamber 178W of this House by walking on it since its rebuilding; how many times the carpet in chambers and lobbies has been renewed since the war; what has been the cost; and what is the annual cost of cleaning the interior of the Palace of Westminster.
§ Mr. SharplesThe admission and control of the public is a matter for the Authorities of the Palace of Westminster, whose records show that at least four million members of the public have visited the building since the Chamber of this House was rebuilt. The carpet in the Chamber has been replaced twice and carpets in the lobbies once since the war, at a cost of £3,500. Cleaning of the public parts and corridors of the Palace of Westminster for which the Ministry is responsible costs £32,000 per year.