HC Deb 30 November 1966 vol 737 cc448-9
36. Mr. Moonman

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will recommend the reallocation of all offices and office space not fully used in the Palace of Westminster, of which there are nearly a hundred, to provide accommodation for hon. Members.

Mr. Crossman

If my hon. Friend would write to me giving any instances of accommodation in the House of Commons part of the Palace of Westminster not being fully used, I will ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and House-keeping Sub-Committee to look into them.

Mr. Moonman

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that it is an extraordinary commentary on the organisation and structure of the House that, nine months after the last General Election, hon. Members have still not been given office space? Would he consider the possibility of reallocating the space rather than our having to wait until we have sufficient rooms built?

Mr. Crossman

I believe that we are following a wise policy in this matter. We are waiting for the new accommodation to become available, and then there will be a complete reallocation of the accommodation that is available to the House of Commons. As for reallocating accommodation between ourselves and another place, that is a much larger question and it is very early to start to consider that.

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