§ MR. ALBERT SPICER (Monmouth District)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, for the convenience of Members of the House coming from the City, he would issue the same order to the Commissioner of Police for the City of London that is given to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to take care that during the Session of Parliament the passages through the streets leading to the House should be kept free and open, and that no obstruction be permitted to hinder the passage of Members to and from the House?
§ MR. ASQUITHI would point out to my hon. Friend that the direction on 163 this subject, which is given to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, is by a Sessional Order of the House of Commons. It is open to the House if it pleases to order that a similar direction be given to the Commissioner of Police for the City. For my own part, I hardly think that such a direction would be warranted. The streets east of Temple Bar can scarcely be said (except in a very remote and circuitous sense) to be streets "leading to the House," and the Embankment is generally available and rarely crowded.
§ MR. SPICERpointed out that a great many Members of the House came from the City, and the difficulty of getting through the streets often imperilled their punctual attendance at the House.