HC Deb 24 March 1953 vol 513 cc646-8
43. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that a number of people are being offered, by his Department, more than one set of seats for viewing the Coronation procession; and whether he will take the necessary action to ensure that persons must sign a declaration to the effect that they have only accepted one offer of tickets so as to make certain that these are fairly and properly distributed among the many applicants who will otherwise be disappointed.

Mr. Eccles

It is inevitable that some people are members of more than one of the organisations to which my Department is offering seats. It is too late to seek a declaration as suggested by the hon. Member, and I doubt if I could enforce it. If anyone does receive a second offer, I hope his sense of fairness will lead him to turn it down.

Mr. Lewis

Is the Minister aware that under the present arrangements it is possible for one person to get as many as 12 tickets? Does he not think it is unfair that one person should get 12 tickets while there are so many thousands who cannot get one? Can he not do something about it?

Mr. Eccles

Of course, it would be unfair, but I think it is best to leave the matter to the people concerned not to take more than two tickets.

Mr. Spence

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that one person can only sit in one seat?

Mr. Lewis

Is the Minister aware that I have been informed that the seats are big enough even for me? Does he not agree that it is unfair for one person to have as many as 12 tickets for his family, his friends and business associates when there are hundreds of thousands who are getting no tickets at all? Surely there is some way of dealing with this matter to see that the tickets are properly shared out?

Mr. Eccles

I thought I had explained to the hon. Gentleman that I can only offer seats to national organisations. If it should happen, as I suppose it does on very rare occasions, that someone belongs to two national organisations—

Mr. Lewis

Or six.

Mr. Eccles

—or six, and receives more than one offer, it is up to him, in ordinary fairness, to tell the person who makes the second offer. "I have already had my tickets."

44. Mr. R. Bell

asked the Minister of Works whether he will allocate a proportion of the seats in stands along the Coronation route to children attending private schools in the London area.

Mr. Eccles

There is no separate allocation of seats on Government stands for schoolchildren. As previously announced, the local education authorities in Greater London are arranging the selection of children who will be given standing accommodation on Victoria Embankment. In accordance with long-established tradition, 400 standing places in Parliament Square have been reserved for the boys of Westminster School.

Mr. Bell

Would my right hon. Friend consider whether more standing space could be allotted to children from independent schools, as the L.C.C., possibly owing to a misunderstanding, have made no provision for children from schools other than maintained or direct grant schools to have places on the Coronation route?

Mr. Eccles

I am rather jealous of this standing room. I think the bulk of it should be provided free and that the rule should be "First come first served." We think we have reserved about as much of the standing room as is reasonable for disabled persons and one or two other categories. Therefore, I am not able to hold out much hope to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Mellish

Can we not, on this occasion, break with tradition and have 400 children from Bermondsey instead of from Westminster School?