§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Richard Crossman)With permission, Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a short statement.
The House will be aware that the President of Pakistan will be arriving in this country on Thursday, 17th November, to commence a Commonwealth visit. Her Majesty will meet the President at the Tate Gallery at 2.45 p.m. and the procession will then drive along the embankment past the Palace of Westminster and up Whitehall. The House of Commons will be sitting at that time and I have been concerned to ensure that the right of access to the Palace of Westminster enjoyed by Members is not interrupted.
The Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis will do everything possible to comply with the Sessional Order of this House directing him to keep the passages through the streets leading to the House free and open during the Session of Parliament. The road will be kept open for Members until the last possible moment before the procession actually passes the Palace of Westminster and be reopened as soon as the procession has passed. It is also intended to keep the footpath in front of the Palace of Westminster empty and, to assist Members, the Commissioner of Police will make available windscreen labels with directions on the reverse on the most suitable routes to be followed to the House.
Hon. Members will appreciate, however, that, while the procession is actually passing the Palace of Westminster, access may be temporarily impeded, although the Underground subway will still be available. The period during which access will be limited will be very short and any inconvenience to hon. Members will be kept to a minimum.