HC Deb 21 November 1966 vol 736 c916
8. Mr. McNamara

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will suspend all work at present being undertaken to install air conditioning in the House of Lords.

Mr. Boyden

No, Sir. The work is virtually complete.

Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

Mr. McNamara

I am glad to have so much support from the benches opposite. Why was it necessary to undertake this work, since we intend shortly to see this place go, in view of what was said in the 1911 Act and the statement in our own manifesto? Is not this an example of painting the ship and then sending it to the breaker's yard?

Mr. Boyden

I do not know about the more rhetorical flights of my hon. Friend's fancy. This Ministry deals with works and bricks. The system was 50 years old, was very antiquated and needed overhauling.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

How much did this work cost? Would it not have been cheaper to put in temporary oxygen apparatus as is used on aeroplanes?

Mr. Boyden

It cost £140,000, but on the technicalities of building I defer to my hon. Friend.