§ Mr. John GarrettTo ask the Lord President of the Council why it is necessary for an hon. Member to obtain the agreement of the appropriate Government Department before applying to the Serjeant at Arms to arrange an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall.
§ Mr. WakehamThis measure has been approved by the Services Committee to ensure that exhibitions mounted by right hon. and hon. Members do not contain items of advertising or commercial interest nor material explicitly intended to further the aims of any political party or group. It was considered that by using their background knowledge of the subjects of exhibitions the Government Departments could help meet the wishes of the House.
In addition, the Services Committee recently resolved that Members' applications for exhibitions should be submitted to the Chairman of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee as well as to the relevant Government Department.