Mrs. Slater:

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will move for a Select Committee to inquire into the provision of first-aid personnel in the House of Commons premises.

No, Sir.

Mrs. Slater:

Is it not about time that further consideration was given to this matter? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that to obtain even a thermometer the other week for one of my hon. Friend; I had to spend quite a long time and do a considerable amount of running up and down corridors and stairs to find one? Is he also aware that the conditions in this House are as antiquated as they are in some other parts of the building—as antiquated as some people apparently want to keep this building? Is it not time that we had available people with first-aid qualifications to whom hon. Members could go in case of emergency?

The Majority of the police who work in the House are trained in first aid. The hon. Lady's Question refers to moving for a Select Committee. That would be a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the House to consider.

Mrs. Slater:

In which case will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. and learned Friend to give this his consideration? Is he aware that some people, particularly some of the young girl secretaries, would prefer to go for treatment to someone other than the police, good as the police are—[Interruption.]—not because they are afraid of the police, but because they happen to be young girls. Is it not time that they were able to go to someone who was really trained in first aid?

There are medical facilities very close indeed to the House, and we should take that into consideration.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that such facilities as we have in this House arose from the recommendations of a Select Committee, the Stokes Committee, of 1953–54? This was one of that Committee's many recommendations? Is he further aware that the small room by the Cromwell Statue was put into order at that time, and that it is about 10 years since those improvements were made? Is it not time, bearing in mind the number of people who work in the House, that we realised that none of the facilities available in the House come up to the minimum requirements that any of Her Majesty's factory inspectors would insist upon? Will the hon. Gentleman look at this matter, if necessary in consultation with the authorities of the House, to see whether something more up to date can be provided?

I am certainly prepared to look at this matter in conjunction with the authorities of the House, but the question of personnel trained in first aid is a matter for the House.