§ MR. HAROLD COXI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the inadequate accommodation that the House of Peers affords for the important State ceremonial of the opening of Parliament by the King in person and to the inconvenience and disorder that result from the practice of summoning this House to attend in the House of Peers; and whether he will consider the desirability of employing on future occasions Westminster Hall for this ceremonial and of there providing for the occasion such seating accommodation as will enable the Members of both Houses of Parliament to assemble in an orderly manner to await the arrival of His Majesty.
§ MR. ASQUITH (for Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN)No, Sir, my attention has not been called to this matter and I see no reason at present for considering the suggestion of my hon. friend. The whole question was thoroughly investigated in 1901 by a Joint Committee of the two Houses, and they expressed the unanimous opinion that a fair trial should be given to the new arrangements recommended by them. Of course, if experience should show that any serious inconvenience still arises we might have to reconsider the question.