§ 22. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Works whether he will provide hon. Members, whose secretaries are accommodated in Westminster Hall, with convenient and adequate facilities for the dictation and signature of correspondence.
§ Mr. EcclesAll rooms in the Palace of Westminster are in use. When the Chamber of the House was rebuilt 19 rooms were provided on the lower ground floor for hon. Members to deal with their correspondence.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some 60 secretaries are working in Westminster Hall and that 198 there is room for only four hon. Members at a time to deal with letters? Will he made a really determined effort to improve the deplorable conditions under which hon. Members have to work, conditions which would not be tolerated in a Government Department or in industry?
§ Mr. EcclesWe are governed by the amount of space available. I have noticed that many hon. Members seem to prefer to do their correspondence in the Lobby and in other places, and I have had no complaint except that from the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is always room for twice as many people in the basement as are ever engaged with the secretaries?