Yesterday, Monday 30th June, saw Parliamentary Questions to the Department
of Culture Media and Sport. It also saw Estelle Morris’ return to the
front bench for the first time since she resigned as Secretary of State for
Education. Michael Fabricant took the opportunity to welcome Estelle back
and to publicise the Secretary of State’s visit (Tessa Jowell) to see the
Lichfield Garrick today. From Hansard:-

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): What plans she has to visit Lichfield to
discuss support for theatres in the city.

The Minister for the Arts (Estelle Morris): My right hon. Friend the
Secretary of State tells me that she will visit Lichfield tomorrow as part
of a regional visit to the west midlands. She looks forward to opening the
Lichfield Garrick arts centre and the festival that will take place over the
summer.

Michael Fabricant : May I welcome the right hon. Lady back to the Front
Bench? Members on both sides of the House are glad to see her there.

Does not my question demonstrate the importance of Question Time? I ask a
question about the Secretary of State visiting Lichfield and the Minister
responds immediately by saying that the Secretary of State will do so
tomorrow.

When the Secretary of State visits the Lichfield Garrick, will she look at
the theatre’s innovative ecological system? All the cooling is generated by
natural sources and does not use air conditioning. Is she aware that the
system was designed by the chair of the school of architecture at the
university of Cambridge? In Lichfield, we lead the way not only in the arts
but in technology, and we have a green Conservative district council, too.

Estelle Morris: The hon. Gentleman spoilt that at the end, but never mind.

I thank him for his generous comments. My right hon. Friend always does what
she says; she promised to visit and she is delighted to be able to do so. I
shall draw her attention to the ecological cooling system that has been
installed, although I bet she would sooner see a performance than an
ecological cooling system. However, I am delighted that the building is a
good one.

The hon. Gentleman makes a serious point, because when we invest capital in
places such as theatres and arts centres, we also want to see living
architecture and technology. I hope that many people not only from his
constituency but also-dare I say?-from my constituency in neighbouring
Birmingham will be able to take advantage of the new facilities.