Parliament Square (Management) Bill (HL Bill 125)

1 Parliament Square Committee

(1) Within six months of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State shall by
regulations establish a Committee (“the Committee”) with responsibility for
the management of the controlled area of Parliament Square.

(2) 5The Committee’s membership shall be made up of representatives of all of the
bodies which own or have responsibility for the controlled area of Parliament
Square.

Representatives of the Metropolitan Police shall also be members of the
Committee.

(3) 10The Committee shall coordinate the work of its members in order to ensure
that the controlled area of Parliament Square is kept clear of litter, detritus or
other debris.

(4) The Committee shall report annually to both Houses of Parliament.

2 Demonstrations in Parliament Square

(1) 15The Committee shall cooperate with any relevant bodies to facilitate lawful,
authorised demonstrations in the controlled area of Parliament Square.

(2) The Committee shall have the power to authorise the removal of any—

(a) tent erected in the controlled area of Parliament Square,

(b) other structure that is designed, or adapted, (solely or mainly) for the
purpose of facilitating the sleeping or staying in a place for any period
erected in the controlled area of Parliament Square,

(c) sleeping equipment placed in the controlled area of Parliament Square
5for the purpose of sleeping overnight in that area,

(d) placard, notice or structure designed or adapted (solely or mainly) for
the purpose of displaying such placard or notice, whether or not any
such structure is used solely for that purpose, or

(e) litter, detritus or other debris.

(3) 10The Committee shall ensure that between midnight and 6am every night any
items listed in subsection (2) are removed.

3 Interpretation

For the purposes of this Act—

• the “controlled area of Parliament Square” means the area of land that is
  15comprised in—

  (a)

  the site in Parliament Square on which the Minister of Works
  was authorised by the Parliament Square (Improvements) Act
  1949 to lay out the garden referred to in that Act as “the new
  central garden”, and

  (b)

  20the footways that immediately adjoin the central garden of
  Parliament Square;

• “footway” has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980 (see section
  329(1) of that Act).

4 Short title, commencement and extent

(1) 25This Act shall come into force at the end of a period of three months beginning
with the day on which this Act is passed.

(2) This Act extends to England and Wales only.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Parliament Square (Management) Act 2012.