§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord BEAUMONT of WHITLEYMy 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 they will take steps to isolate the Household Cavalry sentries in Whitehall from the crowds of tourists this summer.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no plans to isolate either the mounted or dismounted sentries of the Household Cavalry at Horse Guards this summer.
§ Lord BEAUMONT of WHITLEYMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that there are a number of people, including a number of ex-officers of the Brigade to whom I have spoken, who think that this puts an intolerable strain on the men concerned and that it is unnecessary purely in the interests of ceremonial? Can we not spare these men this strain, which will undoubtedly get worse as hordes of welcome tourists increase in future years.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I have no doubt that my noble friend who normally answers for the Ministry of Defence from this Box will take fully into account the views expressed by the noble Lord. All I can say is that the views of the Metropolitan Police authorities, as we have ascertained them—indeed, since this Question was tabled—confirm that they are quite content with the present arrangements. That is not to say, of course, that from time to time there will not be a review of these arrangements to prevent any possibility of the kind of difficulty that the noble Lord has in mind.
§ Lord NAPIER and ETTRICKMy Lords, is there not a similarity here to the situation of the Foot Guards, who, the noble Lord may recall, were moved behind the railings of the forecourt of Buckingham Palace several years ago.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I think the view is that these incidents do not compare with the situation in which we were forced—in 1968, I believe—to move the beats of the Buckingham Palace sentries from outside the railings to the forecourt. There is a difference of nature about the two situations. However, I repeat that I am quite sure that my right honourable friend 890 and, indeed, my noble friend who answers these Questions will take into account what has been said in the House today.
§ Lord KINNAIRDMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell me whose responsibility it would be if, with these crowds pressing on the sentries, one of the horses became frightened and someone in the crowd was injured.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I really do not know. What I am quite certain about is that it would not be the responsibility of the horse. These situations, of course, can become quite serious, as the noble Lord has reminded us in another context. This has been looked at in the light of the noble Lord's Question. The police authorities have been asked for their views. There does not seem to be a consensus view that these arrangements need to be changed at the moment; that is to say, this summer. However, nothing is lost by keeping this kind of situation and arrangement under constant review, and I am quite sure my right honourable friend and the Metropolitan Police authorities will continue to do just that.
§ Lord MACKIE of BENSHIEMy Lords, has the noble Lord ascertained the views of the sentries.
Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTONMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the attentions that pretty girls are apt to pay to horses are not always unwelcome to the riders.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I do not think we ought to make heavy weather about this. As to the question whether I personally have ascertained the views of the sentries, the answer is, no.