HC Deb 25 May 1897 vol 49 cc1261-3
MR. HOGAN

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that there are numerous old buildings along the route of the Jubilee Procession, and that it is proposed to crowd the roofs and front rooms of these buildings to their utmost available capacity; and (2) whether there is any public authority invested with powers of regulation and control in this connection?

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

I have no definite information as to the point raised in the first paragraph of this Question. There is no law, of course, to prevent persons inviting as many guests as they like to their own houses; but the County Council, with whom I have been in communication, have considerable powers in regard to dangerous structures, and are quite alive to their responsibility in the matter. ["Hear, hear!"]

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the attendants of the House are to be provided with seats to witness the Jubilee Procession; and, if not, whether he will reconsider the matter with the view of giving the same accommodation to the attendants as is already provided for the clerical staff and the Press?

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

I can only refer the hon. Member to an answer which I gave last week to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Camberwell, on this subject.

MR. R, K. CAUSTON (Southwark, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of Judge Addison, in the Southwark County Court, in relation to the eviction of tenants on the line of route of the Jubilee Procession; and whether, in view of the special circumstances surrounding the occasion, he will introduce a Bill to postpone until after 22nd June all proceedings on processes where no more than one month's rent is in arrear at the date of the receipt of the notice?

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

I have seen a report of the cases in the Southwark County Court. It would be a serious matter, in my opinion, to interfere with the ordinary law in the way which the hon. Member proposes; but the Judge, in giving judgment for the plaintiff, has power to fix the day on which execution shall issue, and in a case of real hardship I have no doubt he would use that power to name a day subsequent to the Jubilee.

MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can state what arrangements have been made for the attendance of the House of Commons at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on Sunday, 20th June, in commemoration of the Accession of Her Most Gracious Majesty?

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

In answer to my hon. Friend, I have been in communication with Mr. Speaker on the subject, and hon. Members who desire to attend the services will have to be good enough to enter their names in a book in Mr. Speaker's Secretary's office. The service will be at 11.30, and those Members who desire to accompany Mr. Speaker will have to assemble at the House at 11.15. I am not in a position to make any further statement at present, but detailed information will be published to Members as soon as possible.