§ Mr. SpeakerI have a statement to make to the House about accommodation.
On 11th December, 1963,I announced that I proposed to appoint a Committee to advise on the short-term allocation of the additional accommodation which the Government had made available for Parliamentary purposes on the second, third and fourth floors of No. 1 Bridge Street, until the demolition of those premises took place. I have now received the Committee's Report, making the following recommendations, which I understand are likely to be generally acceptable.
I should like to express the thanks of the House to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for South Angus (Sir J. Duncan) and his fellow hon. Members for the very prompt help they have given to the House in dealing with this problem.
- (i) Rooms on the fourth floor should be allocated to Members' secretaries;
- (ii) all 16 rooms on the third floor should be made available to the main Opposition party;
- (iii) space for 14 individual Members on the second floor should be made available to the Government party, and for 10 Members to the main Opposition party;
- (iv) the large room on the second floor should be made available to the main Opposition party for such use as they may wish to make of it;
- (v) the small rooms on the second and mezzanine floors should be used as a staff mess-room and for the office-keeper;
- (vi) Room 10 on the first floor should remain at the disposal of the main Opposition party;
- (vii) the allocation of the rooms should last only for the life of the present Parliament.