HL Deb 03 June 1902 vol 108 cc1255-6
LORD NEWTON

inquired whether Earl Carrington could give the House any information with regard to the arrangements which had been made for the convenience of peers, peeresses, and their friends on the day of the Coronation.

EARL CARRINGTON (in the absence of Lord JAMES of HEREFORD, Chairman of the Committee)

said everything would be done by the Earl Marshal and the Chief Commissioner of Police to promote the comfort of their Lordships on Coronation day. As far as he had been able to gather, the peers and peeresses would be required to enter the Abbey by the west door, and some peers had expressed an opinion in favour of having breakfast at the House of Lords before attending the Coronation ceremony. It was found, however, that the peers and peeresses would be required to be in their places in the Abbey by half-past eight o'clock in the morning, and it was therefore impossible to provide breakfast in the House. But as all peers, peeresses, peeresses in their own right, dowager peeresses, the lords spiritual, the eldest daughters of peers, and the eldest sons of peers, together with their wives, would be, by the courtesy of the Earl Marshal, enabled to pass through the Poet's Corner door, and walk across to the peers' entrance to the House of Lords, confusion in finding carriages would be avoided. The expense attending various arrangements that would have to be made was not matter for discussion in the House. There was the supply of awnings, cloak-rooms, and attendants, and the estimate for all details would not be below £200. That would fall on their Lordships. Luncheon at £1 10s. 0d. would be served in the Loyal Gallery, and a buffet would be erected in the peers' dining-room, where light refreshments would be served at a charge of something like 15s. The Committee were trying not to give a Belshazzar-like feast, but only hoping to give a comfortable luncheon to the peers and peeresses; and if anything went wrong he hoped the House would see that it would not be the fault of the small Committee, but its great misfortune.

LORD RIBBLESDALE

said all the information they had heard seemed delightful—but he had not yet decided whether he should take his chance at the 15s. buffet or the Belshazzar feast. What he wanted to know was whether there would be any chance of getting a sandwich and whiskey and soda somewhere in the background while the Belshazzar feast was going on.

EARL CARRINGTON

said the noble Lord's suggestion and any other would be gladly received and considered by the committee.

LORD LAMINGTON

asked if it were the case that the Members of the House of Commons were to have their food in Westminster Hall, and whether they were to have an awning for which they would have to pay£2.

EARL CARRINGTON

said he believed that the House of Commons luncheon would be 12s. 6d. a head, but that House had a well-organized system of food supply in daily working, with a large staff of servants, whereas the circumstances in the House of Lords were entirely different.