§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how often the carpets within the House and surrounding working areas are sprayed to prevent the excessive build-up of static electricity.
§ Sir George YoungThe carpets are sprayed with antistatic fluid as and when the problem occurs, and also on request. During the recent sustained spell of dry and cold weather which has lowered the humidity in the House nearly 1,000 sq m have been treated throughout the Palace. The advent of warmer, damper weather should reduce the problem.
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§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to seek to cure the problem of excess static electricity within the bounds of the House.
§ Sir George YoungThere are no easy or cheap solutions. Certain areas within the House, including the Chamber, have humidity control which mitigates the build-up of static electricity. The cost of providing permanent or temporary humidity control in all the other carpeted areas would be prohibitively expensive.