§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effects of the recent cold weather on the operation of Big Ben.
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§ Mr. ChopeOn 12 and 13 January the cold weather caused a problem with the chimes of the Great Clock. The normally flexible pads, which regulate the strength of the strike of the bell hammers, became hardened in the extremely low temperatures in the belfry. This affected the hour striking bell, Big Ben, and also one of the quarter-chiming bells. These failed to sound on a number of occasions, the hardened pads preventing the hammers making contact with the bells.
A method has been found of warming the pads sufficiently to restore their flexibility and all the bells are now producing their familiar sound.