§ Mr. Hutchinsonasked the Lord Privy Seal why parents are not permitted to take their children under five years of age into the Festival Exhibition; and whether be will give instructions for the present regulations to be amended so as to make this possible.
§ Mr. StokesAfter careful consideration of this question before The South Bank Exhibition opened, a decision was reached that children under five should not be admitted because of the unsuitability of the exhibition for them and having regard to general safety precautions. There is no crèche or similar facility where very young children can play while their parents tour the exhibition. The Festival Office recently reviewed this decision and are adhering to it as a general principle. I am not prepared to reverse this decision which, on balance, appears to me to be right.