HC Deb 09 November 1966 vol 735 cc1305-6
35. Mr. Hamling

asked the Lord President of the Council what steps are being taken to provide an improved annunciator system for the use of the House of Commons.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Richard Crossman)

A closed-circuit television system of annunciators is being installed in the new Star Court building as an experiment. When Members have had an opportunity to comment on this system, a final decision will be taken for a uniform system throughout the building.

Mr. Hamling

Will my right hon. Friend give the Members of the House an opportunity of seeing an improved annunciator system? Does he agree that a decision on these matters ought to be a decision by the House?

Mr. Crossman

Certainly. I have already said that this will be put in as an experiment in the Star Court building and no decision will be taken until there has been plenty of time to see how it works.

Sir D. Glover

If it is in the Star Court building, presumably only certain Members will be able to see it without great inconvenience. Can the right hon. Gentleman therefore put it somewhere where the great body of Members of the House can see how it is working?

Mr. Crossman

This was done by the Accommodation Sub-Committee. Very wisely it said that it would take the opportunity of the new Star Court building for an experiment on a limited scale. When we have tested it there, we can decide whether to have it made universal. This seems to me to be a sensible thing to do.