HC Deb 11 October 1976 vol 917 c23W
Sir B. Rhys Williams

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what purpose thick cork coverings have been stuck to the walls of some small upstairs rooms of the scheduled building at 6–7 Kensington Palace Gardens; why one of these rooms was also equipped with a ceiling loudspeaker; what use was intended for the fixed metal filing cabinet still in place concealing a hole in the wall; when the work was done; and if it was carried out with the consent of the freeholders.

Mr. Joel Barnett

The building, scheduled in 1969, is part of the Crown Estate which is administered by the Crown Estate Commissioners. They inform me that their consent was not obtained for any work of the sort mentioned, which was internal and did not affect the external character of the building. They believe that the work was probably done in 1960 but they do not know its purpose.