§ 52 and 54. Mr. CROSSasked the First Commissioner of Works (1) whether the stands erected by his Department in the Mall and Green Park will be filled for 528 the Royal processions on 9th May and 11th May in addition to 6th May; and, if so, by whom; (2) where the stands erected for Members of the two Houses of Parliament to view the Royal procession returning from St. Paul's on 6th May are situated; and what means of access, and up to what hour, will be available for those having tickets for these stands?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREOn the 6th May, hon. Members' cars may set down opposite the stand reserved for Members of this House, which will be situated on the south side of the Mall opposite the western end of Carlton House Terrace, up to 9 a.m. Their cars may then be parked in the Horse Guards Parade, provided they fix to the windscreen of the car a parking label, one of which will be issued with every two tickets. Hon. Members may approach on foot up to 9.30 a.m., and, provided they approach from Bird Cage Walk across St. James's Park, the police will endeavour to keep a way open up to 11.30 a.m., at which hour the broadcast of the service in St. Paul's Cathedral will commence, being relayed to all stands. In view, however, of the fact that Mr. Speaker in his coach will pass the stand shortly after 9.30 a.m., I have no doubt that many hon. Members and their friends will desire to be in their places by that hour
In view of the probable traffic difficulties, the Commissioner of Police is anxious that as many persons as possible will dispense with the use of cars and will come on foot.
On the 9th May, the occasion of His Majesty's procession to Westminster Hall, the same seats, to the number of 1,200, will be allocated to Members of this House and their friends, and a similar number of seats will also be allocated to the House of Lords. A further allocation of a similar number will also be made to overseas visitors from the Dominions, Colonies and India through the Dominions Office. The balance of the seats in the Mall, numbering over 10,000, will be sold to the public through the British Charities Association, and the whole of the net proceeds from all these stands will be devoted to charity. All seats will be sold at 2s. 6d. The ceremony in Westminster Hall will be broadcast to the stands in the Mall. 529 On the 11th May, the whole of the stands in the Mall and Constitution Hill will be handed over, free of cost, to the London County Council for the use of the 70,000 school children who will be gathered together to see His Majesty pass on this occasion.
In view of the difficulty of marshalling such a large number of children assembled from different parts of London, it will be necessary to close St. James's Park north of the lake and the Green Park, until 5 p.m. on this day.
§ 53. Mr. CROSSasked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in addition to Members of both Houses of Parliament, the Judges, and representatives of Dominion, Indian, and Colonial Parliaments or Legislatures, any accommodation will be available for other persons in Westminster Hall, on 9th May, on the occasion of the presentation of addresses to His Majesty; and, in particular, what arrangements are being made for wives of Members of Parliament?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREYes, Sir. Accommodation will be provided for ex-Cabinet Ministers not Members of either House, for representatives of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, for the Permanent Heads of the Civil Departments, for officers of the two Houses and a few representatives of the Press. In addition, a limited number of ladies will be personally invited, but I am not at the moment able to say what the number will be until the number of Members of both Houses who propose to attend is known. As soon as this is known, I propose to arrange a special ballot for the seats available for ladies through the Whips' Office.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs my right hon. Friend aware of the feeling that Members' wives should have priority over all other persons except Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI think there certainly will not be room for all wives, even if we exclude the officers of the House, and I do not think it is altogether fair to exclude officers of the House and those who have anything to do with Parliament. As a matter of fact, the only other people who are not Members of Legislatures who will be present, apart 530 from the Royal Family and those in attendance on them, will be His Majesty's Judges, who, I am told, for this purpose are Members of Parliament.
§ Mr. THORNEWill the bachelors of this House be able to bring their sweethearts along?