§ 40. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange to circulate to hon. Members an up-to-date list, and a guide to the location, of facilities available for their use in the Palace of Westminster.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe Serjeant at Arms issues to each Member on election a folder containing a number of leaflets setting out the facilities provided for Members of Parliament. During the course of a Parliament, when the leaflets require amendment he inserts a notice 99 in the All-Party Whip. The Library also issues a pamphlet to every new Member about the facilities they provide. There is also a pamphlet prepared by the Clerk of the House, setting out the services which his Department provides for Members.
§ Mrs. ButlerWill my right hon. Friend look at this question again to make quite sure that these guides are comprehensive, since many hon. Members are unaware of all the facilities available to them, and at least one such facility, a gymnasium, has apparently disappeared completely without many people being aware of it?
§ Mr. CrossmanCertainly I will look at it again, but I would say that a comprehensive booklet would be out of date in a relatively short time. I am told that hon. Members are advised of the facilities available, but if they are not I will certainly look into the matter.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceIs my right hon. Friend aware that one of the most puzzling things for a new Member coming to the House is that one is not given any sort of plan or map of the facilities in this area? It is simply no good producing a booklet listing facilities unless we know exactly where those facilities are, and many of us are still very often lost in this building—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. CrossmanThose of us who have been here 20 years may still find ourselves lost from time to time.
§ Mr. LongdenIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some who have been here 20 years still have to discover whether there are any facilities at all?