Yes, Black Rod was consulted on the closure of College Green. The Green is owned by the House of Commons but day to day access is delegated by the Clerk of the House to Black Rod. Current policy is to allow public access to the Green to enable the public to pass through on the paths or to use it as a recreational space. It is also longstanding policy also to allow the media to use the Green for the contemporaneous news reporting of events within Parliament. Broadcasters are not charged to use the Green as is it considered to be in Parliament\u2019s and the national interest that they should be facilitated to report on Parliament. As the Green is owned by the House of Commons, the question of charging would be a matter for them, not the House of Lords.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4148", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord McFall of Alcluith"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-03T14:05:35.903Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "204"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Abingdon Green"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the House Authorities were consulted on the decision to close College Green to the public; and whether broadcasters using the Green pay the House.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4238", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Storey"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Storey"} ], "uin" : "HL12414"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1028351", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "The Senior Deputy Speaker"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1028351/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Elizabeth Tower refurbishment project, with a budget of £61 million jointly funded by the two Houses, is intended to conserve and prevent further deterioration of the Elizabeth Tower, including the Great Clock; ensure its fire safety compliance; improve the health and safety of the Elizabeth Tower for Members, staff and the public; improve the security and the efficiency of emergency evacuations; and improve the efficiency of the tours in the Elizabeth Tower. No works are required to be undertaken on the Great Bell (\u201cBig Ben\u201d) itself. The project is due for completion in 2021.<\/p>
Work on the project is progressing well. For instance, all elements of the Great Clock, and all cast iron roof components, have been removed from the Tower for conservation work and glazing, gilding and paint stripping work are continuing. Work on restoring the original colour scheme for the clock dials is well advanced. Arrangements have been made to ensure the Great Bell is sounded to mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, and to ring in the New Year on New Year\u2019s Eve.
The Finance Committee receives regular updates on the progress of the project.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4148", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord McFall of Alcluith"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-07T13:17:32.077Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "204"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : ""} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Big Ben"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment he has made of the progress of works being carried out on Elizabeth Tower, including Big Ben; and when he expects those works to be completed.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1813", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Trefgarne"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Trefgarne"} ], "uin" : "HL12425"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 2, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }