HC Deb 29 January 1951 vol 483 c564
50. Mr. Dodds

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement giving details of the orders placed and inquiries made in respect to advanced bookings of visitors to the South Bank Exhibition.

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

I am sure my hon. Friend will appreciate that I cannot give detailed figures. Up to the middle of this month, before advance tickets were on sale, approximately half a million had been ordered from the Festival Office and the various selling agents, mainly for the use of organised parties from the Midlands and the north of England.

Mr. Dodds

Is my right hon. Friend aware that last week the reliable "News Chronicle" Gallup poll made it clear that at least 22 million people intend to see the South Bank Exhibition? Since the management estimate that the maximum they can accommodate in 12 months is nine million people, will an early decision be come to about the continuance of the exhibition into 1952?

Mr. Morrison

I follow the point of my hon. Friend's question and I will keep it in mind. In the meantime, we will do the very best we can.