§ LORD DERWENTMy 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 intention to continue to allow Hyde Park and Green Park to be used as dormitories.]
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, I am sure the noble Lord will be glad to know that my right honourable friend has decided, after reviewing the reports he has received, that it would not be in the interests of Park users generally to continue the experimental opening of Green Park at night. As he announced last 2 month, the Park has now reverted to nighttime closing. Hyde Park will, as hitherto, remain closed at night.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness very much for her Answer about Green Park, but I do not understand what she said about Hyde Park. I understood her to say that, as previously, Hyde Park would not be open for sleeping. But last summer it was allowed to be open on occasion for people to sleep there. What is going to happen this summer?
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, I can explain that point. I know that it is rather confusing. Hyde Park is permanently closed at night, and was last summer. But when 200,000 people came there for specific occasions it was impossible for the police and the park authorities to keep them all out, and on one or two occasions people slept there. But it was not in any sense a regular thing.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baroness. I quite understand the position. But are Her Majesty's Government going to encourage this large number of people to hold these concerts in the Park this summer so that they will have to sleep there?
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, I am afraid that I should require notice of that question.