§ Lord Lee of Newtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
To set out their proposals for the restoration of the ceiling of the Chamber of this House.
§ Lord BellwinA survey and report on the state of the ceiling of the Chamber of this House has been presented to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment by the consultants Donald W. Insall and Associates. The report concludes that restoration may take up to four years to complete and cost well over £2 million. It will be a complex task and many uncertainties remain to be clarified, but my right honourable friend is determined that this marvellous example of Victorian craftsmanship must be preserved as part of our national heritage. He has therefore agreed that contracts may be placed for this work to start in the Summer Recess. The work is bound to cause some inconvenience to noble Lords in the next few years, but every effort will be made to minimise the nuisance. My right honourable friend will be discussing the detailed arrangements with your Lordships' Administration Committee shortly.
House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past eight o'clock.