§ Mr. KINGI beg to ask you, Sir, a question, of which I have given private notice: Whether you will, for the general information of hon. Members, state the practice as to the allocation of seats in the Gallery, and, in particular, whether any seats are regularly reserved there for officials of the Unionist party; and, if so, whether the Irish Nationalist party and the Labour party can also claim any rights to seats in that or any other portion of the Strangers' Gallery?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe seats are allocated, as the hon. Member is aware, by the Serjeant-at-Arms. No particular person has any right to a seat in the Gallery; but the hon. Member will also bear in mind that when the right-hand portion of the seats in the Gallery was taken away from strangers and given to Members, and when the official representatives of Departments were placed behind me on the right, an understanding was arrived at that those who generally assist the Opposition, draftsmen, and the like, should not be placed in any worse position by reason of the fact that eight of the places which were formerly open to them were taken away. Therefore, so long as the Opposition desire to have their draftsman present in the House to advise them, he has to make application daily, and he receives daily a ticket of admission. The same practice, of course, will equally apply to the Irish Members when in opposition to the Government if they desire to have their representatives present; and so, too, if the Labour party were in opposition to the Government; and so, too, if the hon. Member himself formed a party.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask whether the fact that a party like I he Labour party gives a general support to the Government constitutes that party a portion of the Government, and, if not, whether we do not come under your ruling of a party which is not a Government party being entitled to one of those seats?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI said "parties in opposition to the Government." If the hon. Member states that his party is in opposition to the Government, and desires the presence of some particular adviser upon some particular Bill, I shall be very glad to consider what can be done, with every desire to meet his wish.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask whether, apart from being in opposition, the fact that a particular Bill of special interest to the Labour party, such as the Trade Unions Bill, was before the House, would not entitle us to one of those seats?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think it would. If the hon. Member and his party are opposing a Government Bill and desire, to submit Amendments in opposition, I think they would have a very good claim indeed to have a representative present.
§ Mr. WATTMay I ask whether any arrangements could be made by which the seats under the Gallery could be utilised temporarily by friends of Members when the occupants for the day are out for dinner? Many of those occupants go out to dinner and never come back.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think that the arrangement made by the First Commissioner was that if the Gallery behind me on the right was not required for officials, it would be open to the use of Members but not for strangers. That arrangement still holds good.