§ MR. G. W. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he has yet found time to give his attention to the very inadequate 1303 accommodation provided in this House for those Members who wish to smoke; whether he has any scheme for the improvement of this accommodation; and whether he will consider the advisability of allowing smoking in one of the compartments of the Library, as is done in the Library of the House of Lords?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sI have given a great deal of attention to this matter, but I regret to say that I have no practical proposal to make which is likely to meet with general approval, and I do not think any improvement can be obtained until some arrangement can be made for utilising one of the official residences for the direct service of the House. I have also considered the suggestion in the third paragraph of my hon. Friend's Question; but, bearing in mind the extensive use made of the Library by hon. Members generally, I fear it would not be possible to adopt it without causing great annoyance and inconvenience to many. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. REES DAVIES (Pembrokeshire)asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would approach the House of Lords with a view of seeing if it was not possible to obtain one of the rooms of that House to be used as a smoking room for hon. Members?
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASdid not think the matter rested with him. He would, however, put himself in communication with the House of Lords, though he did not think there was any room there which could be utilised by this House for the purpose suggested.