§ 7. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Works if he will extend the lift service from the Members' Lobby to the Committee and Upper Committee Lobbies from 7 p.m. to later in the evening.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Harmar Nicholls)As this would necessitate the employment of an additional attendant, I prefer to leave the matter as set out in my Answer to the hon. Gentleman on 15th April.
§ Dr. KingIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this lift serves the busiest Lobby in the House, and that hon. Members were grateful to him for putting back the morning service until they discovered that he had done so by cutting down the evening service? Is not all that is at stake the putting back of the time to 9 o'clock, which would give a couple of hours' overtime for the disabled ex-Service men who render such excellent service on the lift?
§ Mr. NichollsI think the hon. Member will agree that we are trying hard to meet the wishes of hon. Members on these matters, and that that was shown by my last Answer to him on 15th April. There is a likelihood that during the long Recess this lift may be made automatic. Then perhaps we can overcome the problem.