§ 7. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that the Exhibition, "Tomorrow," at Lansbury, Poplar, is not proving as successful as it ought to be owing to the lack of publicity and lack of special transport from the South Bank Exhibition by road, rail and river; and whether he will take the necessary action to popularise this Festival of Britain Exhibition.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Stokes)It is true that this Exhibition is not proving as popular as was hoped. In all the official Press advertising undertaken by the Festival Office, the Exhibition has had equal prominence with other Festival attractions.
My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is satisfied that the transport facilities are adequate. The river bus service, which serves the South Bank Exhibition site and the Festival Pleasure Gardens, regularly calls at the West India Dock Pier, and a regular bus service runs past the pier to within a very short distance of the Exhibition.
I should welcome any help in popularising this extremely valuable Exhibition, 213 which, I agree, deserves much more public support.
§ Mr. LewisCan my right hon. Friend say whether or not this particular Exhibition is being advertised at the South Bank Exhibition and the Festival Gardens; and, secondly, can he say whether or not any of the Royal Family have, as yet, visited the Poplar Exhibition—if not, will he make suggestions to the appropriate quarters?
§ Mr. StokesI am not sure whether the second half of the question is in order, but I think that the answer is "No." With regard to the first part, I am afraid that I shall have to find out. I think it is quite certain that it is advertised; but I will look into it.
§ Mr. GibsonIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that the direction notices to this Exhibition are really effective? It is a very fine Exhibition, but the complaint I get from people is that it is hard to find because there are not sufficient directional notices.
§ Mr. StokesI will look at that. I have been down there myself and I had no difficulty finding it.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has answered that part of this Question which relates to transport facilities, is it to be assumed in future that Questions to Ministers about transport will be answered provided that Members do not commit the error of putting them down to the Minister of Transport?
§ Mr. StokesI should not have thought so. I merely thought it appropriate to give the House as much information as possible.
Air Commodore HarveyWill the right hon. Gentleman say how many have attended this Exhibition and, in relation to the second part of the supplementary question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis), whether it is not a fact that the members of the Royal Family are grossly overworked?
§ Mr. StokesObviously, I cannot pursue that.
§ Earl WintertonSurely it has been long held in this House that no one may bring into debates or discussions, or introduce 214 by way of questions and answers, the position of the Royal Family? I would ask for a Ruling on this matter, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI agree with the right hon. Gentleman. The first question I regret, and the second one I regret all the more.
§ Mr. LewisMay I say to the House that what I did was through lack of knowledge, and that if I have done anything wrong I withdraw and apologise for it.