HC Deb 22 June 1966 vol 730 cc579-80
38. Mr. Longden

asked the Lord President of the Council if he yet has any proposals for providing Members with facilities for taking physical exercise, on which the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire has written to him and some of his predecessors.

Mr. Bowden

There is no space available in the Palace of Westminster for providing Members with facilities for taking physical exercise, but consideration may well be given to the provision of such facilities in the new Parliamentary building to be built in Bridge Street.

Mr. Longden

I thank the Lord President for that reply. Is he aware that the Mother of Parliaments is the worst employer of labour in the Kingdom and that no trade union would for a moment tolerate the conditions under which we work? Can he give a guarantee that the plans for the new building will contain provision for these facilities so that our successors in the year 2000 A.D. may enjoy them?

Mr. Bowden

Facilities, not necessarily in the new building, are now under consideration by the Accommodation Sub-Committee. The hon. Member will remember that we had the facilities for which he is asking 20 years ago, but at the moment the Accommodation Sub-Committee is having to use every available inch of space to provide desks for hon. Members.

Mr. Hector Hughes

If he is considering potentialities of physical exercise, will my right hon. Friend take into account the need to provide some facilities for swimming?