§ Major Sir H. NORMANMay I ask whether you, Mr. Speaker, have been able to consider the question of so far relaxing the rules which exclude strangers from the sittings of the House as to allow the wives of Members of Parliament to be admitted to the Ladies' Gallery and Strangers' Gallery? If so, can you now see your way to authorise such a relaxation of the rules?
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes. After consultation with the authorities, I have decided to open the Ladies' Gallery from Monday next for the wives of hon. Members.
I must, however, impress on hon. Members that a Ladies' Gallery Order will not admit the bearer beyond St. Stephen's Hall, or the Ladies' Gallery entrance in Speaker's Court, unless she be personally conducted therefrom to the Gallery by the hon. Member to whom the Order has been issued or transferred.
Beginning from to-day, each hon. Member will be entitled to ballot seven days in advance for a Ladies' Gallery Order, which will be available for his wife only.
Orders for next Monday will be issued to hon. Members on application at the Admission Order Office.
1693 From Monday next, during the Sitting of the House the Serjeant-at-Arms will issue Ladies' Gallery Orders, Supplemental to the Ballot, to hon. Members who apply to him for the same after 4.15 p.m. in his Chair. These also are for Members' wives only.
A Notice giving the details of my Regulations will be found over the desk in the "No" Lobby.
§ Viscountess ASTORWould it be possible for something to be done to allow distinguished overseas women to come into the House? I spoke about it the other day. There is a certain lady from New Zealand, and it is the only chance she will ever get to come to England. She is a barrister, a very distinguished woman, and it will be very hard if she cannot get into the House. I do not ask for Americans, or any but Englishwomen, though I should very much like them to come, but I am really asking for the Colonials.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have considered very carefully the case the Noble Lady the Member for Plymouth has put to me and many similar cases. The only relaxation on which I feel I can take a firm stand has reference to the announcement I have just made, namely, the wives of Members of the House. Under present circumstances, after full consideration, I cannot see my way to a further relaxation.
§ Major WATTS MORGANWill hon. Members be expected to bring their marriage lines with them?
§ Mr. SPEAKERHon. Members will sign a card.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEDoes your announcement, Sir, apply only to the Ladies' Gallery? Could not the Public Gallery also be opened?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo. What I have said applies only to the Ladies' Gallery.
Mr. J. JONESLast week we voted very strongly against any privilege being extended to Members of Parliament. If we have the "wind up" regarding the appearance of strangers in the Public Galleries—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member cannot make a speech at this stage. He may put a question.
Mr. JONESWould it not be possible for the general public to be admitted to the House in the ordinary way, provided proper guarantees were given by hon. Members introducing people?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am sure the whole House would be pleased if that were possible. But, after having investigated the present circumstances I am clear that it is not possible.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think they must find another remedy.
§ Earl WINTERTONMay I respectfully ask whether this concession can be extended to the wives of Members of the Dominion Parliaments, who are here in their official capacity, and may I submit, as a point of order, that they appear to be in a different category from the ordinary members of the public. For example, can the concession be extended to the wives of those Members of the Dominions Parliaments who are representing their various Dominions at the Imperial Conference?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill it not be possible for you, Mr. Speaker, to give places in the Gallery to these ladies, the wives of our Dominion friends, without their going into the other Gallery at all?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a point to which I shall be glad to give consideration.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTHas it not been decided, Mr. Speaker, that the Distinguished Strangers' Gallery should be kept open, and, in view of the fact that it has been decided that that Gallery should be kept open, is there any special danger in admitting to it distinguished strangers who happen to be women, as well as distinguished strangers who happen to be men? Is there a special danger with regard to women?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think so.
Mr. M. SCOTTWould it not be open, then, for women who are considered to be distinguished strangers to come here?
§ Viscountess ASTORHear, hear. That is the point.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWhen the present arrangements were made (apart from 1695 temporary prohibition) the balance was given in favour of the other sex, and the reason that that Gallery was confined to men was that they had a minority of places in the House. I will, however, consider that point also.
§ Sir A. BIRDWill the daughters of Members be eligible?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have looked into the matter, and I found that once you departed from the wife to other relations there were complications without end.
§ Mr. HAYDAYAssuming that a Member's lady comes, and brings the family, are you going to arrange a nursery in order that the children may be looked after while the wife is here?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has special experience.