HC Deb 07 May 1894 vol 24 cc471-2
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, during the Whitsuntide holidays, he intends to remove the whole or part of the grating in front of the Ladies' Gallery?

* THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. H. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)

No, Sir.

MR. WEIR

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the important part which ladies play in Parliamentary elections, the First Commissioner will not consider the desirability of transferring the ladies to the Peers' Gallery and the Peers to the Ladies' Gallery?

SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)

And may I ask whether the First Commissioner will take any steps to ascertain the wishes and desires of those most interested—namely, the ladies themselves; and whether for that purpose he will place a book at their disposal in which they can write "Yes" or "No."

* MR. H. GLADSTONE

I shall be glad to ascertain their opinion, but this is a question of some difficulty. As I stated before, it is a matter for the House to decide, and I must leave it in that position.