HOUSE OF COMMONS CATERING (CORONATION) (Hansard, 18 May 1953)

§ 52. Mr. MCLEAVY
To ask the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will make a further statement on the catering arrangements for Coronation day.

§ Mr. Steward
With your permission, Sir, and that of the House, I should like to answer Question No. 52.
Each Member has already received a circular from the Kitchen Committee setting out the facilities available on Coronation day. All tickets for breakfast have now been sold, but there are still tickets available for Members for lunch on the Terrace, and if any Member requires more than four tickets he may now apply for same,
Breakfasts will be served in the Members' Dining Room, Strangers' Dining Room, the Strangers' Annexe, the Har-court Room, Members' Tea Room, and the Cafeteria. The first sitting will be from 6.15 a.m. until 7.30 a.m. As the seating accommodation for breakfasts is limited, it is requested that Members taking the first breakfast do vacate their seats by 7.30 in order that other Members may take their place. If Members do not wish to go immediately to the Abbey or to their Stands, they may wait in the Library, the Central Lobby and in St. Stephen's Hall, where seats will be available.
The second breakfast will be served from 7.30 a.m. until 8.45 a.m. The buffet luncheon will be served on the Terrace under an awning specially erected for the purpose from 11.15 a.m. for those with seats in the stands, and from 2.15 onwards for those with seats in the Abbey. Entrance to the Terrace, which is by ticket only, will be by the North Curtain door and the Centre door.
The Members' Dining Room will be open from 10.30 and the Harcourt Room and the Strangers' Bar from 11.15 onwards for the service of drinks. Lunch tickets will admit to the Members' Dining Room and access to the Harcourt Room and the Strangers' Bar will be by way of the Terrace only.
May I remind hon. Members that they should keep as a pass to the building and to the bars that portion of their breakfast or lunch tickets upon which is printed, "To be retained by bearer."
The Refreshment Department will be closed on Coronation night.

§ Mr. Mellish
Has the hon. Gentleman any comment to make about the staff? What wages is he paying them? Is he going to give them a double day's pay?

§ Mr. Steward
That question is not on the Order Paper, but the hon. Gentleman may rest assured that the Kitchen Committee will deal fairly with the staff.

Mr. Glenvil Hall
Does that answer mean that any hon. Member who has not a ticket will not be allowed access to any part of the building on Coronation day?

§ Mr. Steward
I cannot answer that question. It must be referred to the Serjeant at Arms.

§ Mr. Orbach
Can the hon. Gentleman tell the House whether it is true that the only guests who are going to the Abbey and who are paying for meals are Members of both Houses?

§ Mr. Steward
I cannot answer that question.

§ Mr. Langford-Holt
Can my hon. Friend say whether there is any limit to the number of breakfast tickets which any one hon. Member may have?

§ Mr. Steward
There is no limit.

§ Captain Pilkington
On the question of eating, may I ask my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister whether he has any further advice to give to Mr. Morgan Phillips as to his hat, in regard to what will happen in a few minutes?

Mr. Glenvil Hall
I wonder, Mr. Speaker, whether I may put my question to you? I understand that an hon. Member has the right of access to the Houses of Parliament day or night throughout the year, and I understood from the answer given by the hon. Gentleman that access, certainly to some parts, could be obtained on Coronation day only if one possessed the counterfoil of a ticket. I want to ask you, Sir, whether that will be the case?

§ Mr. Speaker
I have heard this statement for as short a time as the right hon. Gentleman. I understood that what the Chairman of the Kitchen Committee said was that the possession of a ticket would admit the holder to certain parts of the building where catering was going on. I know of no rule or order which prohibits an hon. Member coming into this House.

§ 53. Mr. McLEAVY
TO ask the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will make a statement on the facilities available to Members during the Whitsun and Coronation Recess.

§ Mr. Steward
With your permission, Sir, and that of the House, I should like to answer Question No. 53.
Representations have been made to the Kitchen Committee that Members may wish to entertain their guests at the House of Commons during the Whitsun and Coronation Recess.
The Members' Dining Room and the Strangers' Bar will, therefore, be open for Members and their guests on the following days:

Thursday, 28th May, Lunch and dinner.

Friday, 29th May, Lunch only.

Wednesday, 3rd June, Dinner only.

Thursday, 4th June, Lunch and dinner.

Friday, 5th June, Lunch only.

Monday, 8th June, Lunch only.

Hon. Members are particularly requested to assist the Refreshment Department by booking their tables 24 hours in advance.
All the Dining Rooms will be closed on Monday, 15th June, the day of the Naval Review at Spithead.

§ Mr. Harold Davies
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that while we are excited about these times and facilities, at 12s. 6d. a time many Members of Parliament are not able to afford such extortionate prices for meals?

§ Mr. Steward
Perhaps the hon. Gentleman is not aware that at the last Coronation the charge was 10s. 6d. so that the rise is, therefore, only 2s.