HC Deb 20 July 1966 vol 732 cc621-2
37. Mr. McNamara

asked the Lord President of the Council what progress is being made towards supplying each private Member who so requests with more than one filing cabinet.

Sir Gerald Wills

I have been asked to reply.

The number of filing cabinets issued to Members depends largely on space. A Member who has a single room can have a second filing cabinet if he wants one but there is normally insufficient space in Members' desk rooms for the provision of a second filing cabinet for each Member.

Mr. McNamara

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that, within hours of asking my Questions last week about the provision of desks for new hon. Members within the precincts, I was offered one? May I ask him whether that is establishing a precedent, so that if all new hon. Members table similar Questions they will get new desks?

Sir G. Wells

I am glad to hear the efficacy of the hon. Gentleman's efforts so far.

Mr. John Smith

Is not this tinkering with the problem? Is not the spirit of the age after much bigger game than filing cabinets? Is it not the truth that we cannot do our job by our constituents in a building designed as an early Victorian club, charming though it is, and ought we not to clear out of here, Galleries and all—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman cannot make a speech. Questions should be brief.

Sir G. Wells

I think that that raises rather a wider question.