HC Deb 03 June 1897 vol 50 cc155-61
SIR FREDERICK DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a scheme is on foot to illuminate the Dome of St. Paul's on 22nd June; and whether, in view of the great risk of fire in the Metropolitan Cathedral, he will prevent its being carried out?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, Blackpool

The Dean of St. Paul's informs me that a proposal was made to him that the Dome should be illuminated, but he had stated that he would not give his consent until he had obtained competent technical advice as to the safety of the scheme to be proposed. The hon. Baronet may rest assured, I think, that no scheme will be approved unless all risks are properly guarded against. ["Hear, hear!"]

SIR F. DIXON-HARTLAND

Then nothing will be done without the consent of the Home Office? The City authorities are very much exercised about the matter.

Sin MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

Certainly, Sir. I have been in communication again with the Dean and Chapter on the subject, and I have every reason to believe that nothing will be done which will involve any risk. ["Hear, hear!"]

MR. F. A. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the Royal Victorian Order is to be conferred at the Jubilee on the surviving officers who served in the Crimea and in the Mutiny, the Secretary of State will take steps also to make some special provision for the surviving privates and non-commissioned officers who served in those campaigns, and who have hitherto been excluded from pensions by the existing regulations?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

There is no authority for the statement as to the distribution of the Victorian Order suggested in the Question. Non-commissioned officers and men who served in the Crimean or Indian Mutiny campaigns who have not pensions under the ordinary warrants are granted special campaign pensions provided they have given ten years' service and are in necessitous circumstances. It it not proposed to go further.

*SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the only service not represented in the Jubilee Procession of 22nd June by Her Majesty's Aides-de-camp is that of the Royal Navy; whether he is aware that there is a strong feeling both in the service and in the country as to the inadequacy of representation of the Royal Navy generally at public functions; and whether he will endeavour to remedy this grievance?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover Square

I understand that some of Her Majesty's naval and marine Aides-de-camp will be directed to ride in the Jubilee Procession. With reference to the second Question of my hon. and gallant Friend, I am always as anxious as he can be that the Navy should be adequately represented at public functions, though, as so large a proportion of the service is employed at sea, there are occasions of functions on shore in which it is difficult for them to participate in the same proportion as sonic other services. I should be sorry to think there was any widespread feeling of grievance, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman suggests. I am sure that every one must be anxious to see justice done to the Navy in ceremonials as well as in other respects.

SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee)

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether it is with his authority a notice is still exhibited within the precincts of the House that no Member unprovided with a ticket will be admitted to Westminster Hall on 22nd of June?

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine's

I informed the hon. Member on Tuesday last that I had given no authority to exclude Members from Westminster Hall on June 22. The notice in question was not exhibited by my instructions, and has, I understand, since been withdrawn. ["Hear, hear!"] I may add that in giving my consent to the use of Westminster Hall for luncheon on June 22 for the convenience of Members of the House and their friends I was acting on the request of a Select Committee of the House and in furtherance of what I believed, and still believe, to be the wish of a large majority of this House. [Cheers.] While I would not exclude from Westminster Hall any Member of the House on that day, the hon. Member must understand I certainly do not withdraw my consent to the use of the Hall for luncheon. ["Hear, hear!"]

CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can state how many seats have been allotted by the India Office to the Officers of the Army in India at present on leave in England?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA. (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, Ealing

I stated on Monday that the seats at the disposal of the India Office for the civil and military services had been allotted to those in this country who were considered to have the best claims, without regard to the question whether they were on leave or not. It would servo no useful purpose to give all analysis of the distribution of the tickets among the various branches of the service.

MR. J. AIRD (Paddington, N.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he is able to state to the House the number of military bands that will play in London on Jubilee Day, and also the arrangements that will be made to insure this pleasure for the people; and how many of these bands will conic from Aldershot and from Shorncliffe?

MR. BRODRICK

As far as arrangements are at present completed, 63 bands will take part in the ceremonial on Jubilee Day, exclusive of those bands joining in the service at St. Paul's. Thirty bands will conic from Aldershot and three from Dover.

MR. AIRD

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is able to give any further information as to the arrangements for the street traffic on Jubilee Day?

MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what police arrangements will be made as regards permitting the resumption of either pedestrian or vehicular traffic in the streets to be traversed by the Procession on June 22nd, after the Procession will have passed?

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

I am not in a position to give this information at present, but it is hoped that the arrangements will be completed and the notices issued early next week. This statement will, perhaps, answer also the Question of my right hon. Friend the Member for the Hallam Division of Sheffield.

MR. F. A. CHINNING (Northampton, E.)

On behalf of the hon. Member for Barnsley (Earl COMPTON), I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether lie will consider the desirability of arranging that either all prisoners or long-sentence prisoners will be allowed something better than prison fare on Jubilee day?

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

No, Sir. Besides other object ions I cannot see my way to give special privileges to prisoners which are not and cannot be given to the population generally who are not in prison. [Much, laughter, and "Hear, hear!"]

CAPTAIN SINCLAIR (Forfar)

I beg to ask the Chief Commissioner of Works whether he will be able to make arrangements on June 22 for Members to reach the House by water?

MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS

I have only just received the notice of tins Question and have no knowledge of the matter myself, but by the courtesy of Mr. Speaker's Secretary I am able to say that the Thames Steamboat Company would agree to convey Members and their friends from Chelsea or from any intermediate pier to Speaker's steps at the rate of 2s. 6d. per passenger, provided at least 250 applications are made before June 10. Applications may be made direct to the Thames Steamboat Company, 17, Philpot Lane, E.C.

ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the. Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the forthcoming Jubilee Procession is to be composed in part of Military and Police contingents from every Colony and Dependency of the Crown, the Lords. Commissioners of the Admiralty will make further representations so that the sea power of the Empire may find its proper place in the Procession, either in the form of a Naval field battery with a covering party of Marines or of a rocket brigade; and whether, if none of these suggestions can be adopted and it is decided that the Royal Navy shall have no place in the Imperial Procession, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will order that the seamen of the Fleet shall remain at their respective ports and not be brought up to assist in keeping the streets, but that their services shall be confined to furnishing guards of honour where required?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY

I am, glad to say I am now in a. position to inform my hon. and gallant Friend that it has been settled that naval field guns with their crews will form part of the Jubilee Procession on the 22nd inst. [Cheers.] Contingents of Bluejackets and Marines will be brought up from the ports, not because their services are required to keep order in the streets, but because the Board of Admiralty have felt that their presence, posted as they will be in considerable detachments in conspicuous parts of the route, would be satisfactory both to the public and to the naval service. [Cheers.]

*SIR J. COLOMB

asked whether any detachments of the Royal Marine Artillery, with their guns, would also take part in the Procession?

ADMIRAL FIELD

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there would be a covering party of Marines?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY

It has only just been settled that naval guns are to appear; where, and in what form, will be decided afterwards. The difficulty has been that no detachments of infantry of any kind are to be in the Procession. It was to be confined to mounted troops of the line, but the concession has now been made in favour of the Navy, and that there should be field guns. Whether they are to be manned by Marines or Bluejackets are details which have not yet been settled.

MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Donegal (Mr. T. B. CURRAN), I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that Mr. L. MacMillan, who has spent several years in working up a coffee and dining room business at 114, Borough Road, is to be ejected, in order that his landlord may let the premises for the Procession of 22nd June; and whether, seeing that this is only one case among many others of a similar character, the Government will see their way to bring in a Bill to prevent such grave injustices?

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

My attention has been called to MacMillan's case. The landlord appears to have offered him certain terms on which he might be permitted to remain in possession, and when, these were declined to have taken proceedings in the High Court. The Master by whom the order for recovery was made evidently considered that there was no defence; and MacMillan did not appeal, as he might have done to the Judge. Very few cases of this kind have been brought to my notice; and though it may be there has been hardship in one or two, it would not be practicable, I am afraid, to introduce special legislation to meet them.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if, to prevent disappointment, the Volunteer corps who have been invited to send from the provinces detachments of men to London on 22nd June have been given clearly to understand that they will necessarily be massed several deep in the appointed places, in consequence of the large numbers of troops to be engaged, and will have to make their own arrangements for food and other accommodation, and that this will entail some difficulty, having regard to the probable augmentation of the London population of five millions by half as many again?

MR. BRODRICK

The Volunteers attending the Jubilee ceremonial will have to be messed at definite stations, as over 40,000 troops will in all be assembled in London. Arrangements are in progress to assist Volunteer corps in providing themselves with the necessary refreshments on that day. These arrangements when completed will be duly notified.

MR. G. C. T. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether a holiday, with pay, will be given on Jubilee Day to all persons employed in the public service, though they may not be technically "public servants," such as mechanics, labourers, and others employed at Her Majesty's prisons, and who in most cases have to take a compulsory holiday?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

I must ask the hon. Member to address his Question to the Home Secretary.