Mr Herbert Williams: There is a recommendation which involves legislation, but effect could be given to the same idea in part by setting up a House Committee. The other thing might follow later on. If the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) talked about a House Committee, he would get out of his difficulty.
Mr Herbert Williams: I shall not follow the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Pannell) into all his history, because much of it did not very directly concern the recommendations made. I do not think that there are today any scandals in connection with appointments in this building. We went into that fairly exhaustively and I think that we were all satisfied that the methods of appointment were not open to...
Mr Herbert Williams: I thought it was right that I should say here what I have said in the privacy of the Committee Room upstairs. The proposal to build over the Star Court is a very valuable one and I hope that that will be considered. It will be possible to do it with great economy, since the damaged colonnade has got to be rebuilt and it merely means putting a new room on the top. That would be a most...
Mr Herbert Williams: I have been around this building a great deal. I used to explore this building in war-time. I did fire-watching and I found a great many rooms which I had never seen before. I understand that there is now a chance—and I hope the Lord Privy Seal can say something about it—of making some proper use of the Victoria Tower. The reconstruction of the stonework is now nearly completed. But of...
Mr Herbert Williams: The 1922 Committee occupies the same room as that in which the other lot have their meetings. For some reason they have their meetings early in the morning, and we meet rather later in the day. One lot of people go and quarrel upstairs, and then another lot go and have their quarrel—and why should they not?
Mr Herbert Williams: Certainly. I hope hon. Members will look at this document carefully. We cannot discuss legislation, but we can set up a House committee. Whether later on that could become something rather different I do not know, but in the meantime, without any legislation at all, at the beginning of each Session we can set up a House committee consisting of experienced Members, who can be advised, to make...
Mr Herbert Williams: When was Cyprus ever a part of Greece?
Mr Herbert Williams: May I ask my right hon. Friend whether any statement is to be made about Geneva? Can he tell me how far Geneva is from Munich?
Mr Herbert Williams: Is my hon. Friend aware that goods-lorry drivers often go at 30 to 40 miles on hour, and then go and have a sleep in a lay-by road?
Mr Herbert Williams: asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the name of the present holder of the office of Queen's Coroner for the Palace of Westminster.
Mr Herbert Williams: May I ask whether ball-bearings and sparking plugs are included in the list?
Mr Herbert Williams: China.
Mr Herbert Williams: Neither have I.
Mr Herbert Williams: The hon. Member should look it up.
Mr Herbert Williams: Can my right hon. and learned Friend say whether the Press reports, to the effect that the total invading force consisted of one colonel, 38 other ranks and one radio transmitter, are true or not? Are not they less numerous than the whole Security Council put together?
Mr Herbert Williams: asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how much of Christ Church Green. Victoria Street, S.W.1, will be occupied by the new post office; and what garage accommodation will be provided.
Mr Herbert Williams: Why is it that in this most congested area a new post office has been set up by the State with no garage accommodation, despite the fact that less than 200 yards away two private buildings have been put up, both of which would provide ample accommodation? Is it not time that the State stood up to its responsibilities in ridding the streets of vehicles?
Mr Herbert Williams: Did you fall into the canal?
Mr Herbert Williams: asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the capital cost to date of London Airport and the annual cost of its operation, including capital and depreciation charges, and fees paid for the use of its facilities.
Mr Herbert Williams: As London Airport is equivalent to a railway station, it must be losing £1 million a year. May I ask if that is not, in effect, another subsidy to the various air services using it?
