HC Deb 18 February 1937 vol 320 cc1386-7W
Sir T. Cook

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will arrange for a site to be available for the purpose of a camp for members of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade drawn from the provinces, who will be doing duty in the streets on Coronation Day?

Mr. R. S. Hudson

(for the First Commissioner of Works): My Noble Friend regrets that he is unable to entertain this request.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the visit of detachments of the Home Fleet to the Thames during the Coronation celebrations, he will offer similar facilities to the fishing fleet, so that representative trawler and drifter crews may share in these celebrations and the public be reminded of the value of the fishing fleet as a vital part of the nation's food and defence services?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

As my hon. Friend is by now aware, the fishing fleets have, by His Majesty's permission, been invited to send representative ships to the Naval Review at Spithead on 20th May. The honour of this invitation will, I am sure, be deeply appreciated by owners and fishermen, and I think that we can count upon adequate representation of the fishing fleets. Attendance at ceremonies of this character involves, however, financial sacrifices on the part of owners, skippers and crews. I doubt, therefore, whether they should be put to the additional expenses involved in a visit to the Thames.

Mr. Day

asked the Lord President of the Council whether any decision has been arrived at as to the range of prices that will be charged for the 85,000 seats now being erected by the Office of Works for the purpose of viewing the Coronation procession; and can he give particulars of the number of these seats that will be allocated free?

Mr. R. MacDonald

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave in the House yesterday afternoon to a Private Notice Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition. None of the 85,000 seats are to be allocated to the public free of charge; but it is not proposed that any charge shall be made for the standing space which, as already announced, will accommodate 30,000 persons.