§ Mr. PageTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation process following the exhibition of two prototypes of the proposed new permanent lighting system in the Chamber, as described in his answer of 1 May,Official Report, columns 183–84.
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Year Confirmed cases Cases where evidence is suggestive Total Pregnancies1 Total cases per 100,000 pregnancies 1979 — 1 1 66,866 1.5 1980 2 2 4 67,063 6.0 1981 — 1 1 67,889 1.5 1982 2 2 4 64,966 6.2 1983 2 1 3 63,596 4.7 1984 — — — 64,214 — 1985 2 — 2 64,968 3.1 1986 1 1 2 64,703 3.1 1987 — — — 64,932 — 1988 — — — 65,440 —
§ Mr. MacGregorAs I explained to the House on 1 May, two prototypes illustrating the proposed design for the new permanent lighting system in the Chamber were exhibited from 7 to 17 May. Comments from right hon. and hon. Members and others were invited by 23 May. Only one written response was received by the Select Committee on Broadcasting, from an hon. Member critical of the prototypes. In view of the lack of formal expressions of opposition to the proposed design, and taking into account the generally favourable reactions conveyed orally to Members of the Select Committee by hon. and right hon. Members and others, the Committee decided at its meeting on 10 June to confirm the basic design of the prototypes as the format for the new lighting system. I should emphasise, however, that some minor modifications may prove necessary as a result of subsequent discussions involving the Parliamentary Works Office, the Select Committee's technical advisers and English Heritage, regarding the details of the installation of the new lights. In particular, certain decorative features not present in the prototypes will be incorporated in the final design.
It is hoped that the new lights will be in operation by the end of the summer recess.