HC Deb 21 April 1971 vol 815 cc1171-3
32. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware of severe discomfort caused to Members who do not own motor-cars, when seeking to return to their homes after late sittings of the House after public transport has ceased; what steps he intends to take to get such Members home without their incurring abnormal expenditure on conveyances, such as taxicabs, if available; and whether he will cause taxicab and/or car hire warrants to be issued, similar to Members' rail and air travel warrants.

Mr. Whitelaw

I appreciate the nature of the difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers. Nevertheless, I believe that hon. Members must continue to rely on their own arrangements.

Sir G. Nabarro

As we are entering a period of the year when we shall be debating the Finance Bill, which will be compendious and complex I have no doubt, entailing long debate, would it not be reasonable for my right hon. Friend and his colleagues to learn a lesson from the Industrial Relations Bill—

Mr. Heffer

Drop it.

Sir G. Nabarro

—when quite a number of hon. Members were stranded here late at night—[Laughter.]—which I do not regard as a matter for hilarity—because public transport had ended and they had no motor cars of their own? Surely if persons on the staff of the Refreshment Department can be provided with tax-free and cost-free transport home in the early hours of the morning, it is not unreasonable that legislators should be carried home as well—[Laughter.]—rather than having to "kip" in extreme discomfort in odd corners of the House until public transport begins again at six o'clock or seven o'clock in the morning?

Mr. Whitelaw

I should say to my hon. Friend that there is one essential difference between our staff, on whom we place very considerable trials and to whom we are greatly indebted, and ourselves. We are responsible for our own actions; we impose the hours on them. That is a very essential difference. It is also true that we receive certain travel allowances and they do not. That again is an essential difference. If my hon. Friend has evidence of hon. Members being stranded here unable to get home. I shall be very pleased to receive it, but I believe it is right that we should continue to rely on our own arrangements.

Mr. Tinn

Will the right hon. Gentleman, who is one himself—[Laughter.]let me put it right—who is a provincial Member, recognise that provincial Members are not able to afford accommodation in the centre of London and, therefore, have to live some way out? Does he not recognise a general anomaly in that the staff of the House, quite properly, have transport arranged for them, and I believe some senior officials of the House have accommodation arranged in the building for them, while hon. Members have nothing? Surely something should be done to assist them. It is quite irrelevant to talk about our travel arrangements to our constituencies and homes.

Mr. Whitelaw

As the hon. Gentleman correctly puts it, I am extremely sensitive to the interests and needs of provincial Members. I fully appreciate the important point he makes. I am glad that he accepts the position concerning our staff, which I think is important. I will certainly consider what he has said but I still believe it is right that we should rely on our own arrangements. The hon. Member described me as "one of them", and I recognise that I am perhaps the villain of the piece because late nights can often be ascribed to my activities.