§ 35. Mr. Molloyasked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the progress with the provision of Members' facilities, with particular regard to additional desk space and rooms.
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Richard Crossman)The Star Chamber Court building is now occupied mainly by Ministers and members of the Shadow Cabinet. There are five double rooms for Members on the top floor. Accommodation has, however, been released elsewhere in the precincts, and this amounts to 64 additional places which are being reallocated to private Members. In addition, 38 desks are being provided in the Cloisters. In all, therefore, there are 112 additional places now available for private Members.
§ Mr. MolloyWhilst we are all grateful for small mercies—I believe I am speaking for all hon. Members on both sides of the House—would not my right hon. Friend declare that it is the intention of the present Government ultimately to provide every Member with a room? Will he understand that we want these rooms not for any personal comfort but so that we can be more efficient Members of Parliament so far as our constituencies are concerned and so that we may have an opportunity to study properly the great events which involve everybody in this country whom we represent?
§ Mr. CrossmanYes, of course, one appreciates the needs of hon. Members. I would only add that we ought to provide rooms only for those who need them. Some do not need them. Apart from that, my hon. Friend knows that the Services Committee is actively concerned with the possibility of providing a new building. The particular problem which now concerns us is the site of the new building to make sure that it is really useful to Members and not merely an unuseful adjunct.
§ Sir G. NabarroWhy does the right hon. Gentleman seek to sort out Members into those who are supposed to need rooms and those who are supposed not to need them? Is he not aware that many Members are driven from the precincts of the Palace of Westminster elsewhere to seek accommodation because there is no proper accommodation for them here?
§ Mr. CrossmanI am indeed aware of that. All I said was that in view of the difficulties we have experienced, in the first instance we ought to limit our plans to those who need and say they need extra room. That is not true of every Member of this House.