HC Deb 15 March 1965 vol 708 cc869-70
22. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress is being made with providing simple office accommodation for Members of Parliament.

Mr. C. Pannell

I am carrying out the programme described in my reply to my hon. Friend on 1st February. In addition, preparations are proceeding on the scheme to build over Star Chamber Court, which could provide space for nearly 70 Members.

Mr. Blenkinsop

I welcome my right hon. Friend's energy and vigour in this matter, but is he aware that there are still very many Members on both sides of the House who lack any simple office accommodation, that the longer it is left the more difficult it becomes, and that none of these hon. Members, so far as I know, wants separate lavatory or other bathroom accommodation?

Mr. Pannell

I am particularly seized of all this. My hon. Friend came back to the House at the last election and I would ask him to believe that some progress was made in his absence. Three hundred and ten Members now have a separate desk and filing cabinet. A further 21 desk places have recently been equipped in rooms in the Upper Committee Corridor. Between 40 and 50 desk places will be available after the Recess in 54 Parliament Street. Accommodation for a further 28 Members will be made available in the south block of the roof space, which is due for completion in November 1965. The allocation of space in the Star Chamber Court building will be a matter for the House to decide. Therefore, we are making some progress.

Sir Knox Cunningham

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why so many rooms on the upper floor have been allocated to Ministers? Is it because there are so many of them in this Administration?

Mr. Pannell

That supplementary question is getting rather bleak now. It has been asked four or five times since I have been at this Box. The answer is that I am responsible for allocating rooms to Ministers. I am not responsible for allocating rooms to Members.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Does the Minister realise that the accommodation provided for Members in the Library is very efficient and satisfactory in every way but that it could be more satisfactory if Members' papers were left in an orderly condition on their desks when they leave at night?

Mr. Speaker

Order. We cannot deal with the Library as "simple office accommodation".