HC Deb 16 July 1963 vol 681 cc309-10
7. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will issue a White Paper setting out in detail his Department's proposals for extending and improving accommodation for Members of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster and in Bridge Street.

26 and 27. Mrs. Emmet

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) whether he will at an early opportunity inform hon. Members of plans for and progress made with the scheme to provide additional accommodation for Members in the roof over the Thames front of the Palace of Westminster;

(2) what further progress has been made with the development of accommodation in Bridge Street for Parliamentary purposes.

Mr. Rippon

I will shortly publish this information and make it available to the House.

Mrs. Emmet

Could my right hon. Friend give some idea of the timing and when hon. Members might be able to use this new accommodation?

Mr. Rippon

I think that my hon. Friend is referring to the accommodation in the roof. Work on phase I will commence in August. I hope that further details of this and, indeed, of the whole of the Bridge Street scheme will be given in the publication which I will make in a few days.

Mr. C. Pannell

Between this date and the date of the possible forthcoming debate will the Minister address himself not only to this question but to the matter which arises from it, that is, whether he can consult the Leader of the House and Mr. Speaker and others to set up a continuing committee to supervise any accommodation in the interest of Members? It would be a very bad thing if in the end we had the sort of buildings which hon. Members did not like and the sort of accommodation they did not want.

Mr. Rippon

I do not think that that is entirely a matter for me. I will certainly draw the hon. Member's views to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.

Mrs. Emmet

Will my right hon. Friend consider installing simultaneous translation arrangements in the Bridge Street site when it is built?

Mr. Rippon

That is a rather specialised question. I will certainly consider it.