§ 7. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Works whether any persons were exempted from the parking fee payable on the Horse Guards Parade during the Christmas period.
§ Lord John HopeThose occupants of the surrounding buildings with permits to park on Horse Guards Parade were allowed to park without charge during the Christmas period in the area usually assigned to them, which was roped off from the area available to the general public.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltIs not this quite wrong? If it is appropriate that the general public should park on this place—which is debatable—should not my right hon. Friend see that in future all those admitted at this time should pay the same fee?
§ Lord John HopeThe reason—apart from custom, which is not always absolute—why one justifies the public paying on the occasions when this place is open to the public is that all the cars going in and out during the day and filling the whole parade ground causes considerable expense through it having to be put right afterwards. It does damage to the rather soft surface of the Horse Guards Parade. That, I think, justifies the charge.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltIn view of the fact that one man is kept permanently at this place now—which was not necessary before—to look after the 100 or so cars which are kept there, is not my right hon. Friend putting forward a case for charging them on every other day of the year?
§ Lord John HopeI do not think so.