HC Deb 22 February 1906 vol 152 cc520-1
MR. NORMAN

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will consider whether the time has now come when the brass trellis in front of the Ladies' Gallery might safely be removed; and if he will give the House an opportunity of expressing its view of this matter.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I am not aware that the question of safety has ever entered into the consideration of this matter. It is a question of comfort and convenience, and upon this point varying opinions have again and again been expressed with great confidence. I am not sure that a new House, with a very large proportion of Members who have no practical knowledge of the facts, would be an authoritative judge in the ancient controversy.

MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware of the fact that on two previous occasions the opinion of the occupants of the Ladies' Gallery was taken, and whether that opinion was not on both occasions in favour of retaining the grating?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I am not as well acquainted with the opinions of the Ladies' Gallery as my hon. friend appears to be. As far as my slight acquaintance with these thing goes, I have heard opinions strongly expressed on either side of the question and my own opinion, if I might put forward, is that there is much more in convenience caused by the heavy mullion, which interpose themselves between the occupants of the Ladies' Gallery and the Members of the House than by the grating itself. But I do not think we can de termine a matter like this by the opinions of the occupants of the Ladies' Gallery gathered casually on some particular occasion.

MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydyil)

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of admitting ladies to the galleries of the House on the same term as men?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

That has been often suggested and discussed in the House; and I think the general experience and opinion have been against it.

AN HON. MEMBER

Is there any occasion for the four notices in the Ladies' Gallery commanding silence, when there is none in any other part of the House?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I am not aware of it, but there must be some mysterious reason.