HC Deb 17 May 1965 vol 712 cc986-7
45. Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will take steps to arrange for modern fixtures and fittings to be installed in the Members' hairdressing saloon in the House of Commons and for the saloon to be redecorated.

Mr. C. Pannell

No, Sir. Two new basins were fitted in 1960, and the saloon was completely redecorated last year; and I can only say this—that personally I like the Victorian Gothic.

Mr. Lloyd

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us some kind of assurance that he will look at this matter? Is he aware that, however much he may be wedded to Victorian Gothic, there are those of us on this side who would like something more fitting and belonging more to the twentieth century?

Mr. Pannell

I am fraid that if the hon. Gentleman wants a Beatle haircut he cannot get it in this House. I am greatly interested and have seen and spoken to a great many hon. Members who use the hairdressing saloon and have found that they rather liked the atmosphere of the place. There is no particular demand, except from people who came in at the last election, to try to alter this hairdressing saloon.

Mr. Snow

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Victoriana should be maintained and sustained; that there are many excellent qualities of Victoria's age that we should respect, and that we have no respect at all for the demands of the political Teddy boys opposite?

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is a bit wide of the hairdressing saloon.

Sir Knox Cunningham

Would it be possible to get a Beatle wig in this House?

Mr. Pannell

Mr. Speaker has just ruled out the previous supplementary question as irrelevant, and I merely characterise this one as being rather silly.