§ Mr. B. S. STRAUSI desire to ask you, Sir, a question of which I have given private notice, that is, whether you cannot see your way to make some change in the way in which Members have to keep their tickets when successful in the ballot for the Ladies' Gallery for two members of their family? Whereas it is a physical impossibility for two ladies to sit through the whole of the sitting, would it not be possible for a Member to transfer those tickets to another member of his family, so that the Gallery might not be left so empty as it is at present without in any way contravening what is, I understand, your decision that the tickets shall only be allowed to be transferable to the members of a family of a Member successful in the ballot?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt has been brought to my notice that the Ladies' Gallery is not used to a very great extent from after dinner to the rising of the House. It has occurred to me that it might be convenient to hon. Members if we gave some further 846 facilities for using the Gallery. What I propose to carry out after Whitsuntide will be this: At the present time when lion. Members ballot only the first 18 that come out receive tickets for lady relatives; after Whitsuntide there will be 36 names drawn. The first 18 will receive tickets for their lady relatives which will be available from the meeting of the House up to a quarter past eight o'clock. The second 18 on the list will receive tickets available from a quarter-past eight o'clock to the rising of the House. I hope that will lead to the convenience of hon. Members. By referring also to the Sergeant-at-Arms they can at any time change from one to the other if they obtain the sanction of an hon. Member who is willing to effect an exchange with them.
§ Mr. W. REDMONDWould you, Sir, also be good enough to arrange that Members who have succeeded in obtaining places in the Gallery, may, if they so desire, at intervals during the sitting transfer their places to the relatives of other Members, so that if a lady, after being in the Gallery for an hour or two, either before or after dinner, wished to go away, the place might not remain vacant?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat would be a more doubtful policy. I think that, at all events for the present, what I have suggested ought to suffice. It places on the Member the responsibility for the conduct of those whom he may introduce to the Gallery.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWill the second 13 be available after dinner only in the event of there being room, or will they be entitled to places?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThey will be entitled to go in at a quarter-past eight.