HC Deb 25 March 1897 vol 47 cc1302-4
MR. DARLING

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to allegations that certain owners of houses are taking steps to turn out their tenants from houses on the route of the procession of Her Majesty to St. Paul's and back; whether this is being done especially on the south of the Thames; and whether any steps, by diverting the route of the procession or otherwise, will be taken to prevent this conduct from inflicting loss and inconvenience upon the tenants?

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

I have made some inquiries since I answered a similar question on Tuesday, and learn that there are one or two such cases in the district south of the Thames. As I explained on Tuesday, I have no power to take any action the matter, however much I might wish to do so. If, however, such action unfortunately became at all general, I have no doubt that representation will be made in the proper quarter, and there is time to change the route. [Loud cheers.]

MR. HUDSON KEARLEY (Devonport)

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he can give any details of the arrangements being made for Members of Parliament to view Her Majesty's Jubilee procession; and how many seats will be allotted to each Member of the stands it is contemplated erecting?

MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the arrangements for enabling Members of Parliament to view the Royal procession on the 22nd of June will include their wives also?

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Before the right hon. Gentleman may I ask him a subsidiary question, which seems by inadvertence to have been omitted; it is whether, in the case of a Member who has no wife of his own, he will be allowed to bring anybody else's wife? [Laughter.]

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

I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Devonport the other day that provision would be made for Members of Parliament to see Her Majesty's procession. I also asked the hon. Member to give me a little longer notice before asking me to answer any questions as to details. I am sorry I cannot answer the question of the hon. Member for the Mansfield Division, but I will give him the information as soon as I can. Perhaps the same answer will apply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lynn Regis. [Laughter.]