HC Deb 22 February 1906 vol 152 cc510-1
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that when hon. Members on two recent occasions visited this House at midnight for the purpose of securing their seats, the Chamber and approaches thereto were in darkness, and that the request of Members to have them lighted was refused by the officers in charge; whether he can say who is responsible for this state of things; and will he see that in future Members are afforded light when they, in the exercise of their rights, desire to visit the House at night.

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. HARCOURT,) Lancashire, Rossendale

On the two occasions referred to by the hon. Member, the usual practice was followed as regards the lighting of the main approaches, lobbies, etc., to the Chamber; in fact, there were more lamps in lighting than usual. The Department responsible had no knowledge of any request for further lighting by Members. The Debating Chamber has not hitherto been lit upon occasions of a similar character. I much regret any inconvenience caused to Members. I have given instructions that in future any reasonable request for temporary light in the Chamber of the House itself shall be immediately complied with.

MR. EUGENE WASON (Clackmannan and Kinross)

Are Members entitled to come down here at midnight and secure a seat unless they are prepared to stay within the precincts of the House until the House meets? Ought not the rules on the card to be observed.

MR. SPEAKER

said the rule was printed upon the card, and was printed there not for the purpose of being broken, but for the purpose of being complied with. The rule was very clearly stated upon the card, and if hon. Members would look at it they would see the conditions under which they were entitled to place a card upon a seat and to take that seat at prayers.

MR. EUGENE WASON

I came down here for the first time at five o'clock in the morning and found no Members within the precincts of the House, although every single seat on both sides had been taken.

SIR BRAMPTON GURDON (Norfolk, N.)

Seeing it was not possible for Members coming down at midnight to remain, would it not be advisable to prohibit the taking of seats before a reasonable hour?

MR. SPEAKER

said that the occasions upon which seats were taken at midnight occurred very rarely, once or twice in the course of the session, and he thought there had generally been a tacit understanding that the rule should not be enforced upon those occasions. Of course it would be quite improper that, if the House were to rise at midnight, Members should then proceed to secure their places and go home, and come back again here at two o'clock and expect to find their seats allotted to them.