§ 23. Mr. KINGasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether a large upper room in this House is now vacant; if so, whether he will consider the desirability of making it available for the use of hon. Members; and whether he will have it fitted up as a newspaper room, in which files of important papers for a few back weeks might be kept and thus made available for Members?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)Yes, Sir. It is hoped that several large rooms on the Upper Committee Room floor will shortly be acquired for the use of Members. These rooms can easily be reached by the new lift. The First Commissioner would be glad to know to what use Members would wish them put.
§ Mr. KINGI have another question. I should like to know whether these rooms will be quiet and secluded, so as to offer a resort to hon. Members who want to prepare their speeches?
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the hon. Member say how he proposes to get the opinion of the hon. Members as to the use to which these rooms are going to be put? Those who have ascended in the lift have found that one of the rooms is already being used by one of the parties in this House, and I am perfectly certain that none of us knew about it.
§ Mr. BENNThe intention, in the first place, was that hon. Members should communicate their wishes to the First Commissioner of Works.
§ Mr. FREDERICK WHYTEWill the hon. Gentleman see that a file of foreign newspapers is put in one of those rooms?
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEAre there going to be some attendants to look after these particular rooms?
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYCan the hon. Gentleman arrange for separate writing tables in one of those rooms?
§ Mr. BENNOh, yes. If the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to communicate with my hon. Friends, so that the wishes of hon. Members may be met.