§ 42. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Lord President of the Council if he will move -for the appointment of a Joint Committee to consider the allocation of space in the Palace of Westminster in order to ensure for this House a proportion more in relation to its size and functions.
§ Mr. CrossmanI think this issue must await the outcome of the consideration being given at present to the constitution and functions of another place.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the numbers in the other place will be sufficiently reduced that their case for their existing accommodation will be further weakened? Is it not the case that even in 1953 they had over 20,000 square feet of space more than they were entitled to by their numbers? Will he take urgent steps to get rid of the Lord Chancellor's Department from this Palace?
§ Mr. CrossmanThese are all important questions which indicate the state of the cold war which now exists between ourselves and the other place, and which might conceivably be ended by a change of the sort that I suggest.