§ 39. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will ask the Services Committee to investigate the extent of smoking by hon. Members within the precincts, with a view to proposing tighter controls over this practice.
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. James Prior)No, Sir. Considerable restrictions already exist and the Services Committee is most concerned to maintain the balance between those who hold opposing views on the subject.
§ Sir G. NabarroIs my right hon. Friend aware that this Question relates specifically to Division Lobbies and not to the precincts of the House? As it has been an order in Parliament since 1696 that smoking should not be allowed in the Division Lobbies, will my right hon. Friend enforce the order and insist that Labour Members obey the rules?
§ Mr. PriorI do not find myself in the Labour Division Lobbies very often. I think that the last time that I was in the same Lobby as the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. Harold Wilson) was when he was Prime Minister and I voted for the Common Market. The rule was laid down in 1927 by Mr. Speaker, who ruled that
it is certainly against the Rules of the House to smoke in the Division Lobby and I would ask hon. Members generally to see that the Rule is observed."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th July 1927; Vol. 209, c. 1469.]