Annex 1: Areas and events at Parliament
which are open to the public
The following areas and events at the Houses of Parliament
are open to the public:
a) When Parliament is in session:
i. Visitors are able to sit in the viewing galleries
of both Houses to watch the debates in progress. Basic leaflets
on the work of Parliament are provided in various languages. As
demand is high, a limited number of tickets can be obtained from
Members of either House in order to secure a seat to watch Question
Time and Prime Minister's Question Time in the Commons. Other
visitors are able to queue and gain entrance if there is space
left after ticket-holders.
ii. Visitors are able to attend Commons proceedings
in Westminster Hall, and Lords proceedings in the Moses Room.
iii. Visitors are able to attend public evidence
sessions of Select Committees in both the Palace of Westminster
and Portcullis House (and sometimes elsewhere in the UK) and are
able to attend meetings of General Committees to listen to debates
on bills, delegated legislation and European Community documents.
Leaflets on evidence sessions are available in the meeting room.
iv. Visitors are able to attend judicial hearings
of the House of Lords, which take place in Committee Rooms 1 and
2 in the Palace of Westminster when not in the Chamber.
v. During sitting weeks, but at times when the
Houses are not sitting, Members of the Commons and Lords are able
to arrange free tours through the Central Tours Office for visitors
along the "Visitor Route"[86]
which last about 75 minutes and include key areas of the Palace,
including the Commons and Lords debating chambers. Visitors are
accompanied by a trained guide. Member-sponsored tours are almost
at capacity.[87]
vi. From time to time, temporary exhibitions
are displayed in Westminster Hall, which is open to the public.
Most recently an exhibition to mark the 400th anniversary
of the Gunpowder Plot was held in Westminster Hall and was visited
by approximately 70,000 people.[88]
vii. Tours of the Clock Tower are available to
visitors who can arrange a tour in advance through Members. Tours
are free and groups are accompanied by a guide who explains the
history of the Clock and Big Ben.
viii. Visits are possible to the Parliamentary
Archives which hold millions of records from both Houses and other
historical material relating to Parliament. Proof of identity
is required to gain access, but there is no charge. In 2005-06
the Archives were visited by 1,124 people individually and also
39 groups of visitors (consisting of approximately 450 people).
ix. Virtual visitors can access the Parliamentary
website at any time and for many visitors this is the preferred
medium for accessing information about the House.[89]
In 2005/06 there were over 32 million page requests for information
from the main Parliamentary website and 88 million page requests
to the Parliamentary publications website.[90]
Information on Parliament, as well as webcasting of live proceedings
from both Houses, including in Westminster Hall, House of Lords
Grand Committees in the Moses Room, House of Commons general committees,
and select committees of both Houses can be found on the website.
x. Live and recorded proceedings of the House
of Commons and House of Lords in session are made available to
broadcasters. The most comprehensive coverage of parliamentary
broadcast material is via BBC Parliament. This channel also shows
debates in Westminster Hall and some Select Committee evidence
sessions.
b) When Parliament is not in session:
i. During the Summer Adjournment, visitors can
buy tickets to tour Parliament. The tour, which is identical to
the Visitor Route tours sponsored by Members during sitting weeks,
is available from Monday to Saturday. In summer 2006 tickets cost
£7 for adults and £5 for concessions. Foreign language
tours are offered at set times in French, Spanish, Italian and
German. Tickets for foreign language tours cost £9 for adults
and £7 concessions in summer 2006.
ii. Again, virtual visitors can access the website
when the Houses are not sitting.
86 Previously called "the Line of Route". Back
87
The Central Tours Office estimates that during the Parliamentary
term, the Visitor Route is able to accommodate approximately 460
people at any one time. During the summer, when the more experienced
Blue Badge Guides conduct tours, the maximum number of people
that can be accommodated on the route rises to approximately 625.
In addition to escorted tours, Members and staff are also able
to escort up to six guests on the Visitor Route. Back
88
Report of the House of Commons Commission for 2005-06, para 176
Back
89
The Parliamentary website is www.parliament.uk Back
90
Report of the House of Commons Commission for 2005-06, para 146 Back
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