HC Deb 29 June 1966 vol 730 cc1788-9
37. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the average square footage of office space occupied by those back-bench Members who have any such space; and how this compares with similar space occupied by others in those parts of the Palace of Westminster under the control of the House of Commons.

Mr. Bowden

The information requested by my hon. Friend could be obtained only at disproportionate expenditure of time.

Mr. Hamilton

Will my right hon. Friend arrange for hon. Members to go round the building to see what kind of accommodation they have got? Is he aware that there are rooms upstairs which incidentally are empty and have been empty for a long time, which are new rooms on the Upper Committee Corridor floor, but if and when hon. Members get into them they will be very much like battery hens? Will he agree that, even with the improved accommodation, back-bench Members will still be worse accommodated than many other people in this building?

Mr. Bowden

The Accommodation Sub-Committee has been looking at this question and doing a considerable amount of work in this present Session of this new Parliament. It has to be appreciated that new space is being provided in the building in Star Court and in the roof space. During the decanting of some hon. Members from one part to another it may now be that, on occasion, rooms will be empty, but if my hon. Friend has any information about empty rooms which can be used for desk space or even for filing cabinets the Sub-Committee will be glad to have it.

Mr. John Lee

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is quite a lot of space occupied by another place which could well be taken over by this House?

Mr. Bowden

I have reminded the House on many occasions that when Her Majesty gave Mr. Speaker here and the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords responsibility for looking after our respective parts of the Palace of Westminster it was clearly understood that, except for joint arrangements made between us, we would not interfere with each other's accommodation.