§ SIR HENRY FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will consider the propriety of making some new regulations with respect to the user of the Terrace?
§ *THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sI entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman that some regulations limiting the number of admissions to the Terrace are greatly to be desired [cheers], and I should be glad to make regulations in this sense, but unfortunately I have no power to do so.
§ SIR HENRY FOWLERMay I ask who has the power, who is the Minister responsible to the House for the expenditure of public money in respect of the Terrace?
§ *MR. AKERS-DOUGLASI believe that in the first place the Sergeant-at-Arms has the control of the Terrace, and the Secretary to the Treasury is responsible for his Vote. [Laughter.]
§ SIR HENRY FOWLERI will put the Question to the Secretary to the Treasury to-morrow.
THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R, W. HANBURY,) PrestonI may add to the statement of my right hon. Friend that I have only to defend the Vote. I am not responsible for it in any way. [Laughter.]
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)Arising out of this matter, I protest against any attempt to deprive us of the only pleasure I know of in Parliamentary life—that is, the right of taking lady friends on the Terrace. [Loud laughter.] Therefore I cannot allow these Puritanical notions to prevail without protest. [Laughter.]