HL Deb 13 October 1969 vol 304 cc1208-9

2.38 p.m.

Lord DERWENT

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to continue to allow people to sleep in the Royal Parks after the Parks are supposed to be closed for the night.]

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Regent's Park are closed at night and it is an offence to be there after closing times. St. James's Park is permanently open. This year Green Park was left open experimentally and some people took the opportunity to sleep there at night. Many were young overseas visitors and tourists who often find difficulty obtaining overnight accommodation in London. My right honourable friend has received reports about the experimental opening and is studying them before reaching a decision about the future opening arrangements.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, is the noble BARONESS saying in regard to Green Park that the majority of those sleeping there were people who had tried to get accommodation and had failed?

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, I could not possibly verify that they had tried individually to obtain accommodation, but I think it is well known that there is at the moment a phenomenal shortage of proper accommodation for visitors in London.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, can the noble BARONESS say how soon we can be told about what the policy is going to be for Green Park?

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, I understand that my right honourable friend will be making up his mind in the very near future.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether she agrees that so long as these people are asleep in the Park no harm is being done, and it is only while they are awake that any damage might be caused?