§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what work is being undertaken in Norman Shaw South; and when it will be complete.
§ Sir George YoungThe Crown suppliers parliamentary workshops and stores are being rehoused on the basement and lower ground floors. The bulk of the work will be completed by the end of this month, but a goods lift between the two floors is to be installed in May.
Work in connection with a new satellite telephone exchange is proceeding on the lower ground floor and will continue until January 1985, although builders' work should be complete by the coming summer recess.
Accommodation for the Library on the sixth floor will be completed by the end of this month, but a book hoist between the fifth and sixth floors will be installed later in the year.
Renewal of the lift at the Embankment end of the building will begin during the summer recess 1984 and should be complete in spring 1985.
A handrail to the staircase around the rear lift is to be fitted before the summer recess.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure (a) that noise in offices in Norman Shaw South is restricted in such a way as to allow secretaries and other staff to work in tolerable conditions and (b) that those undertaking the work are doing so with proper protection against excessive noise.
§ Sir George YoungNoisy work is already restricted, as far as possible, so as to minimise inconvenience to the occupants. With the building occupied 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, complete satisfaction is not easy to achieve.
Every effort is made to use the quietest machines and methods available for the benefit of both occupants and contractors operatives. Safety and comfort of operatives is, of course, a matter for the individual contractors concerned.