§ Mr. John Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, on 1st January 1976, how many of the 422 desks provided for Members in the Palace of Westminster were not allocated; and how many desks are currently available for Members and their secretaries in other locations near the Palace of Westminster.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI have been asked to reply.
On 1st January, of the 447 writing places provided for Members within the Palace of Westminster 421 had been allocated to Members, four to the Parliamentary Labour Party, two to the Opposition Whips and four to the Leader 658W the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures, work is expected to start on stage 1 of this scheme, Kiddal Hall to Branham Cross Roads (A1), in 1977–78, and on stage 2, the Red Lion to Kiddal Hall, in the early 1980s.