Charging for Access to Parliament

Brandon Lewis Excerpts

Thursday 15th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Robert Halfon]

I am delighted to see that Labour Members have suddenly become monarchists after all these years.

[Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) (Con)]

A couple of weeks ago, I was at a primary school in Great Yarmouth where people were asking about coming down to the House to Commons for a tour. The young children, who were five and six, were talking specifically about Big Ben. The head teacher said that they would love to come here but coming all the way from that part of Norfolk is expensive enough as it is. Does my hon. Friend agree that adding a charge for Big Ben—the very thing that some of those children want to come and see—would put it beyond the reach of people in areas such as Great Yarmouth?

[Robert Halfon]

As so often, my hon. Friend speaks for the common man. He is absolutely right. He will see from some of my later remarks that I completely agree with him.