§ 56. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the number of passes to the House currently in issue.
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Wakeham)On 19 January 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 9,976 photo-identity passes, giving access to all or part of the Palace of Westminster, were in issue.
§ Mr. MarshallDoes my right hon. Friend agree that in view of the large number of passes currently in issue, it would be feasible to issue 70 or so passes so that all Members of the European Parliament, who are not currently eligible for a pass, could receive one, which would improve co-operation?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must not anticipate the debate that will take place tonight.
§ Mr. WakehamAs you rightly say, Mr. Speaker, my hon. Friend raised a matter that, if you should select a certain amendment, will be right for debate this evening. As my hon. Friend knows, I have considerable sympathy for the point he makes.
§ Mr. Simon HughesWill the Leader of the House tell us how many of the 9,000-plus passes are category 30 passes for lobbyists? Does he take the view—this is not dealt with in the report—that their number should be reduced?
§ Mr. WakehamI do not want to anticipate tonight's debate, but lobbyists are partly dealt with in the report and we had best wait for the relevant debate.