asked the Minister of Works what will be the total expenditure on the alterations to the Lido in Hyde Park; and what benefits will accrue to the bathing public from these alterations.

The estimated cost of these improvements is £29,000. The benefits which will accrue to the public from this expenditure were described in the reply to the hon. Member's Question on 20th November, 1950. At present the available changing accommodation is insufficient to meet more than a fraction of the demand in fine weather.

May I be allowed to congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his first answer in his new office? May I ask him if he is aware that, whereas the main requirement of this Lido is that there should be some space for sun bathing when there is sun, as a result of the fortifications being put up there is less space? Does this not represent a certain lack of planning?

No, Sir. We are planning on the factor which is constant—the supply of water in which people swim.

asked the Minister of Works why, in connection with letting contracts to the building industry for work embracing painting operations, he specifies a short closed list of paint manufacturers, from which many well-known and reputable firms are excluded whose products may be obtainable at more economic prices; what are the qualifications for inclusion in this list; and if he will make a statement.

In order to ensure paintwork of high quality and long life in Crown buildings, and in Government buildings taken on long lease, the decorators' choice of paint is at present limited to the products of 21 firms which have undergone rigorous tests and are guaranteed. For other purposes this restriction does not apply. Any reputable manufacturer whose paint passes the tests, and who will give the required guarantees of performance, can secure entry to the limited list.

Do I understand from the Minister's reply that many of the reputable firms so far debarred from entering the list may be given the specifications with which they have to comply, and that if they can comply they can have their names added to the list?

There is no debarring. There is nothing to prevent them knowing the specifications and having their products tested and approved. If the hon. Lady knows of any difficulty and will let me know about it I will have it looked into.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is the very greatest difficulty in getting decisions made, and that though some firms have put their names forward for the list nothing has happened?

I am not aware of that. If the hon. Gentleman will give me particulars I will certainly have them looked into.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept a list of firms who have endeavoured over a long period to go on the list and who still find they have not been included?

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the hardship involved, his Department will meet the cost of removing the works erected by them on land belonging to Lieutenant-Colonel Cary Owtram, New-land Hall, near Lancaster.

No, Sir. I have nothing to add to the reply my predecessor gave to the hon. Member on 13th March last.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really think it is fair that Lieut.-Colonel Owtram should suffer great hardship, in that after four years as a prisoner-of-war in the Far East he should now be made to bear the far greater part of the cost of making good damage done to his property in his absence by the War Department?

The difficulty is that we are operating under the law covering this matter—the Compensation (Defence) Act of 1939—and we cannot go outside it.

asked the Minister of Works what is the cost of the issue of two new turkish towels now being made to each Civil servant.

It will cost approximately £140,000 to provide one towel for each Civil servant. The towels being provided are mainly huckaback, but some surplus turkish towels have been issued.

Are some of these magnificent turkish towels to be used in the Palace of Westminster?

There is a great deal of exaggeration about what are called turkish towels. They are ordinary rough towels, and were bought much more cheaply than others.

In addition to each civil servant at the War Office, will the members of the military staff be given towels as well?

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the facilities now allowed to sightseers for the purpose of viewing the Crown Jewels are unsatisfactory; and whether, in view of the large number of additional visitors expected during the Festival of Britain, he will arrange for an improvement to be made in the method of showing these exhibits to visitors.

The Jewel House was re-opened to the public on 1st May after being closed since 14th February for alterations designed to improve the display arrangements.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the improvements that have been made since my Question went down, may I ask him if he is aware of the fact that while the actual viewing is better, the room is still too small, the approach is not good enough, and the exit is too small? The result is that there is one jammed mass of people. Could he take some steps to improve the size of the room so that the exhibits can be properly seen?

There is a limit to what we can do in that way, in the nature of things; but I have made some inquiries, and the responsible authorities tell me they are delighted with the new arrangements.

asked the Minister of Works the number of building licences which his Department have granted since March, 1951, to industrial firms in respect of alterations to or construction of buildings for recreational purposes; and the total number of applications received over the same period.

Thirty-seven such licences have been granted since 1st March, 1951. Precise figures of the number of applications are not readily available, but they amounted to about double the number granted.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that there has been considerable disappointment, particularly in Yorkshire, at the lack of consideration given by his predecessor to representations for recreational facilities? If I bring to his notice a case which has been under consideration by his predecessor for over 12 months, will he go into it personally and see what can be done about it?

Yes, Sir. I will look into it, but we have to remember that we are carrying out a very large building programme at the moment and there must obviously be some restrictions and difficulties.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I was asked in this particular case to get the firm to make a re-application in March of last year, that the amount is very small, that it is necessary to provide these recreational facilities for the staff, and that the Minister has found it impossible to grant a licence?

asked the Minister of Works what steps he takes when granting licences for building civil engineering construction to ensure that any steel required is available.

None, Sir.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that a large amount of building has started after licences have been granted and then stopped because of the lack of steel? Would it not be better if some system were adopted whereby, when licences were given, the authorities made sure that the steel was available for the buildings?

If the hon. Gentleman is pressing for further Government controls, I will certainly consider it.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of increased cost of building materials, he will consider raising the free limit of £100 on repairs.

This point will be among those to be considered in deciding on the amount which may be spent without licence in the period beginning 1st July, 1951.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account that unless an alteration is made the higher price of materials means that fewer repairs can be done to old buildings?

Certainly, but there are considerations on the other side, such as the pressure of the defence programme.

asked the Minister of Works if he can now state the number of bricks which will be wanted for the extra building involved in the £4,700 million defence programme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 20th March, to which I have nothing to add.

As bricks have been scarce for housing purposes, and as the Government do not know what they want for defence purposes, on what basis do the Government say that there will be no interference with the housing programme?

Answer.

asked the Minister of Works if his attention has been drawn to the anxieties of the Dorset Master Thatchers' Association about the future of their ancient craft; and if he is prepared to abolish the regulation that a building licence must be obtained where the cost of thatching a building is estimated to be more than £100, since the materials used in thatching are not controlled or scarce and thatchers are not employed on any other type of building work.

No, Sir. I have not heard that the building licensing regulations have caused any difficulty to thatchers. If, however, the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I should be glad to look into it.

Is the Minister aware of the importance of encouraging thatchers in regular work in view of the large number of buildings which are thatched and cannot be converted at the present time?

Yes, I am most certainly aware of its importance, and if the hon. Gentleman has any difficulty, perhaps he will let me know.