§ MR. BERESFORD HOPErose to put a point of Order, to Mr. Speaker. He had just been, with some other hon. Members, shut out in the dark, low passage leading to the Lobby during the division. He desired to acknowledge the great comfort and convenience of opening the Lobby in a large, and particularly in a late division. But when the division was comparatively early and small there was another side to the question. The convenience to Members dividing was small, while the inconvenience of cutting off circulation by the way which the architect had provided was cruel and great. During such divisions access to and from the Library was hard, except by the circuitous passage by the Central Hall, St. Stephen's Hall, Westminster Hall, and the Cloisters. He desired to ask Mr. Speaker what was the rule on such occasions?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, that the practice of opening the Lobby to Members during a division had prevailed for many years, and, being found convenient, instructions had been given to the Serjeant-at-Arms to open the Lobby to Members during divisions whenever the number of Members in either Lobby exceeded 150. In the division referred to by the hon. Gentleman 260 Members voted, and, consequently, the Serjeant-at-Arms had been justified in opening the Lobby according to the usual practice.
-
c369
- FREE LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS BILL. 40 words cc369-70
- MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER BILL. 41 words c370
- AGRICULTURAL TENEMENTS SECURITY FOR IMPROVEMENTS BILL. 46 words c370
- PUBLICANS CERTIFICATES (SCOTLAND) BILL. 66 words