§ 43. Captain McEWENasked the Minister of Pensions, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he can now state what arrangements are in contemplation with a view to increasing the accommodation in the Galleries in this House?
Mr. HUDSONYes, Sir. As I stated in the answer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Berwick and Haddington (Captain McEwen) on 29th June, Mr. Speaker has agreed to increase the seats at the disposal of the Diplomatic Corps by allotting them the whole of what is now known as the Special Gallery. It was originally proposed to form a new Special Gallery by taking 10 seats from the present Members' Side Gallery. On reconsideration, however, it is now proposed to reconstruct the existing Strangers' Gallery, and, by including an extra row, to obtain additional seating accommodation for between 24 and 28 persons. It is contemplated that half this, namely, 12 seats, will be added to the existing Strangers' Gallery, making 1083 a total of 112 seats to be balloted for daily by Members instead of 100 as at present. The remainder will form the new Special Gallery. In the event of the Diplomatic Gallery seats not being occupied by four p.m. 14 seats will fall for disposal to Members by the Sergeant at Arms, who may thus have some 31 seats for disposal at four o'clock instead of 19 as at present. Representations have for many years been made by the occupants of the Press Gallery as to the inadequacy of the space at their disposal. Mr. Speaker has approved proposals for a reconstruction of the seating in this Gallery which will increase the total by some 12 seats, and will make the other accommodation more convenient. This will involve the sacrifice of about 18 inches on each side of space at present occupied by the Members' Side Gallery. It is hoped to carry out this work during the forthcoming Recess.
§ Mr. THORNEDo I understand from that reply that it is going to curtail the seating accommodation of Members of the House?
§ Mr. THORNEI want to know whether you are to curtail the seating accommodation of each individual? There are 400 odd seats in this House, and will it curtail the seating accommodation?
Mr. HUDSONThere will be only 18 inches sacrificed on each side in the gallery, and in view of the very difficult circumstances in which members of the Press work at present, this arrangement will add to their comfort.
§ Mr. SANDYSDoes the Minister propose to accommodate 12 Pressmen in 18 inches of space?