HC Deb 07 November 1990 vol 180 cc2-3

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis do take care that during the Session of Parliament the passages through the streets leading to this House be kept free and open and that no obstruction be permitted to hinder the passage of Members to and from this House, and that no disorder be allowed in Westminster Hall, or in the passages leading to this House, during the Sitting of Parliament, and that there be no annoyance therein or thereabouts; and that the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do communicate this Order to the Commissioner aforesaid.

2.33 pm
Mr. Robert Adley (Christchurch)

I shall be very brief, Mr. Speaker. You will remember that in 1970 the late Mr. Marcus Lipton referred to the growing ineffectiveness of this Sessional Order. Twenty years later, traffic has hardly diminished in and around Parliament square. Parked coaches especially cause traffic jams at every entrance to the square. Could you, Mr. Speaker, please use your good offices to see that these tower blocks on wheels are banned from parking within one mile of this place?

Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)

I am pleased that Parliament is not allowing the Sessional Orders to go through on the nod. Some people were unkind enough to suggest that on the last occasion when I raised this issue, it was because of the television cameras—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh no."] I agree with you, Mr. Speaker, that that would be a scandalous interpretation.

I wish to draw attention to the all-party notices of 18 October 1990. On the occasion of the visit by the President of the Italian republic on Tuesday 23 October, the Sessional Orders relating to access to this place were not repeated. The all-party notices state: These closures will take effect at 11.15 am and the roads will be re-opened at approximately 1.30 pm. Provided they identify themselves to the Police, members of Parliament proceeding to or from the Palace of Westminster or the Parliamentary outbuildings (whether on foot or in motor vehicles) may pass along the streets which have been closed until the latest possible moment. The Sessional Orders are unqualified. There is no until the latest possible moment. Access is unqualified. I know that we have to be courteous of the President of the Italian republic, but that does not mean to say that, because we are in the Common Market, the rules of the House should be subordinated, swept to one side or qualified to say that, in effect, at some stage the Commissioner of Police may deny entry to the House by road because of the visit of the President of the Italian republic. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask you to ensure that that sort of qualification is not introduced again.

One last point on the Sessional Orders is that on the last occasion when I raised the matter of students gaining access to this place, a number of them wrote to me and said that it was right that citizens should have access, in addition to hon. Members, because they are the people who will guide our destiny in future.

Mr. Speaker

I will ensure that all those points are made known to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Question put and agreed to.

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