HC Deb 18 July 1988 vol 137 c786
26. Mr. Chapman

To ask the Lord President of the Council what representations he has received about the number of passes issued to gain access to the Palace of Westminster, about the case for the numbers to be limited and about the feasibility of limiting pass holders to more restricted areas of the Palace.

Mr. Wakeham

Since 10 November 1987, when the House resolved that the Services Committee should consider the control of access to the precincts of the House, I have received one letter from an hon. Member and answered 10 parliamentary questions on matters relating to the number of passes issued.

In addition to that, during the course of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee's inquiry into access to the precincts of the House the Sub-Committee took oral evidence on four occasions and received some 35 memoranda. The Sub-Committee has just completed that inquiry and intends to publish the report, which encompasses, among other issues, numbers of passes, their limitation and the question of controlled areas, on Monday 25 July.

Mr. Chapman

In view of my right hon. Friend's reply, I shall wait to read with interest the report of the Select Committee. In the meantime, could my right hon. Friend assure the House that the deliberations and proposals of this Committee will be based not only on grounds of security but on the simple fact that the Palace has limited facilities for a limited number of people and that, on the space factor alone, more restrictions will be necessary?

Mr. Wakeham

I recognise the force of my hon. Friend's point. However, I recommend that he awaits publication of the report.

Mr. Dobson

Will the Leader of the House confirm that there are no fewer than 140 Government press officers with passes to this building which give them access to the Press Gallery, and that that means that there is one Government press officer for every three journalists entitled to get into the Press Gallery? Is that because Ministers are incapable of explaining the Government's policies?

Mr. Wakeham

It is because they are capable of explaining their good policies and because they have plenty to say that, from time to time, press officers are required in the House. The hon. Gentleman is being mischievous if he thinks that the 140 are here together at any one time, because there are many Government Departments. The hon. Gentleman has some knowledge of these matters. I suggest that he awaits publication of the report, which he played some part in preparing.