Summary of Responses from Members of the
House of Lords to the House of Lords Information Committee survey
on a Parliamentary Visitor and Information Centre
1. In parallel with the Commons Administration
Committee, in July 2006, the Chairman of the Information Committee
in the Lords sent out a survey to all Members of the House of
Lords asking for their advice on whether particular facilities
ought to be offered to visitors. The survey was identical to that
sent out to Members of the Commons. [120]
2. The Information Committee sent out 741 questionnaires
and 160 responses were received. The answers indicate that Members
of the Lords rank the most essential or desirable elements of
a visitor and information centre as follows:
| Suggested elements within a visitor and information centre
| % of Members who responded who thought that this element was essential or desirable
|
| Exhibition/information area explaining the history and role of Parliament
| 97% |
| Guiding/interpretative support for visitors
| 93% |
| Practical facilities—shop, café, toilets, ability to book tours, etc
| 89% |
| Purpose-built facility for educational groups
| 85% |
| On-line presence which replicates the experience for those unable to visit
| 78% |
| Area bookable by Members to receive constituency or interest groups
| 72% |
| |
3. The survey form also invited Members to submit comments
in response to the question "are there any other elements
that should be provided?" A number of Members answered this
question. Some Members used this part of the questionnaire to
indicate their views about the principle of a visitor and information
centre, and others commented on the location.
GENERAL PRINCIPLE
4. Most of those responding did not question the benefits
of a visitor and information centre. Some were explicit in their
support:
— "I believe it is vital that we have a visitors
centre." [121]
— "A proper visitor centre is a terrific idea
and needs to be open as many hours as possible so that visitors
have a good time and we have an easier time receiving them."
[122]
5. A small number of other Members expressed reservations,
some taking the view that resources should be concentrated on
enabling Parliament to be a more effective legislature and others
suggesting that present facilities did not need improvement:
— "Wherever this facility might be sited, it
is vital that it does not pre-empt the requisition/construction
of a proper car park for the House of Lords which incorporates
a simple/rapid private access for Members into the House. A new
car park is far more important than this idea, for which I have
only limited enthusiasm." [123]
— "The purpose of the Palace of Westminster
is to facilitate the work of MPs and Peers have to do. Space in,
and around, the buildings is extremely scarce and much needed.
It would be far better to ensure—for instance—that
each MP and Peer has his or her own individual office than to
turn ourselves into lecture halls, exhibition stands and support
units for visits." [124]
— "We must remember Parliament is a legislature
and not an historical museum." [125]
— ". . . This is a legislature not a tourist
facility. Improvements should be geared to improving its legislative
role rather than improve its magnetism for tourists." [126]
— "It is extremely good already. Should not
become institutionalised." [127]
— "Present facilities are adequate."[128]
MEMBERS' COMMENTS
ON THE
POTENTIAL LOCATION
OF THE
VISITOR AND
INFORMATION CENTRE
6. A few Members expressed views on where a visitor and information
centre should or should not be located:
— ". . . I would not like to see new buildings
on Abingdon Green or the Tower Gardens." [129]
— "The new centre should have direct access
into the Palace of Westminster without the need to cross a road
with traffic." [130]
— "It would be desirable if a new visitor centre
were built in Abingdon Green for there to be an underground tunnel
connecting it with the main building, for use by visitors and
members of the House of Lords." [131]
— "Westminster Hall is a magnificent, unique
example of English medieval architecture. If it is cluttered up
with stalls it detracts from its magnificence of scale. Any other
site is to be preferred for a visitor centre." [132]
— "Any building on Abingdon Green or Victoria
Tower Gardens should not obtrude much on these v. pleasant open
spaces. I hope the Committee will consider fitting a visitor centre
into an existing building outside the Palace." [133]
FACILITIES THAT
A VISITOR
CENTRE OUGHT
TO PROVIDE
7. Facilities that Members thought that the visitor and information
centre ought to provide fell into the following broad categories:
a. Disabled access
As in the Commons, several Members in the Lords emphasised
the need to make provision for the disabled:
— "I presume all facilities will take account
of the needs of people with physical impairments." [134]
— "Accommodate visitors to the Chamber during
the debate. Availability of wheelchairs (if possible)." [135]
— "Disabled access." [136]
— "Facilities for disabled people (wheelchairs,
guide dogs, deaf loops)" [137]
— "I must stress the need for communication
facilities for disabled people—especially those with a learning
disability." [138]
— ". . .Disabled facilities including loop
essential." [139]
b. Need for improved facilities for schools and educational
groups
A number of Members, including the Schools Minister, commented
on the need to provide appropriate facilities and materials for
schools:
— "Anything we could do to improve our—somewhat
sparse—facilities for schools visits would be warmly welcomed
in the educational world, not least by those seeking to promote
more effective citizenship education." [140]
— "If possible the opportunity to purchase
materials which could be used for further information after the
visit—particularly for schools, colleges etc." [141]
— "An information pack for school children
outlining what Parliament is for and how they can influence decisions
through their MPs." [142]
— "The facilities provided by the Scottish
Parliament and especially by the Welsh Assembly are admirable—the
latter caters well for school groups and I was impressed by eg
interactive facilities to identify AMs, and the website to which
visitors could contribute ("what is a debate" —answers
included: "When one person stands up and talks and then another
person stands up and talks" —sadly probably true).
Have the devolved institutions been visited?" [143]
— "We should provide worksheets/interactive
materials for school children (as in museums, at galleries etc).
I do my own if I take a group round, particularly primary school
children." And "I have had a lot of experience in taking
round Parliament groups of children from ages 7 to 18. We really
don't have appropriate material particularly for younger children.
I am thinking of interactive materials, worksheets, models etc
etc." [144]
— "I suggest school groups are allowed to debate
in Chambers of Commons and Lords during our vacations." [145]
— "Material to enable educational groups to
be prepared in advance." [146]
c. Need for greater provision of information for visitors
on Parliament
A significant number of comments were made about the need
for more information about Parliament and for this information
to be conveyed through a variety of media:
— "TV link showing proceedings in real time."
[147]
— "Information on role of Parliament versus
Executive. Information on the role of opposition parties ie scrutiny
of legislation. Parliamentary Questions. Demanding Ministerial
Statements. The work of Select Committees, opposition Supply Days
etc . . . Role of House of Lords in a bicameral system."
[148]
— "A glossy souvenir guidebook should be available
but so should an inexpensive one be available at the start of
a tour to use on the tour. Our experience at Leeds Castle in Kent,
shews that many people cannot afford a glossy one to keep but
would like to have a manageable (ie handy one) easy to absorb."
[149]
— "We also need to make use of modern communication
techniques—video's, DVD's etc." [150]
— "Information to be available by telephone
and by internet." [151]
— "Guide for parliamentarians who take their
own visitors round." [152]
— "A DVD on the House at work, for sale."
[153]
— "Leaflets/handouts. Ability to take notes
if sit in public gallery"[154]
— "TV of debates in action." [155]
— "The information should be interactive where
possible. Perhaps there could be some discussion with people involved
in the citizenship element of the national curriculum so that
the exhibition/information and on-line presence can be used as
a resource for citizenship lessons." [156]
— "MPs and Peers should be encouraged and helped
to talk to visiting groups . . ." [157]
d. Focus of the visitor and information centre
Some Members were particularly concerned that information
about Parliament should focus on what Parliament does today:
— "There should be some real time explanation
of what is going on in the Chamber at that moment (assuming the
House is sitting) using the TV screen feed and assign some "Test
Match Special" type comments." [158]
— "More role/less history. A virtual experience
of [Parliament] which will make scarce "in-House" time
more useful." [159]
— "By far the most important aspect for the
proposed centre is to be able to describe the present role of
the House of Lords and how we operate. A visit to Parliament would
not simply be another museum visit—it must give a proper
insight to what we all actually do." And "for visitors
who need to know more about how the House of Lords actually works,
this needs to be very much more the focus of any educational activities
than simply to regard a visit to the Palace of Westminster as
a visit to yet another museum. I fear that the Guides are quite
good on history but have absolutely nothing to say about what
we are doing at present. If we are going to continue to perform
our vital role of revising legislation and holding Ministers to
account, there has to be far greater public understanding of what
we do and how we do it." [160]
— "In the exhibition/information area emphasis
should be on the role of Parliament. Where we are now. Separately,
a simplified/schematic account of the history—how we got
where we are. (At present, children tend to be overwhelmed by
the history.)" [161]
e. Reaching visitors from other parts of the country and
outside of the UK
Some Members commented on outreach and, in particular, the
need to ensure that languages other than English are catered for:
— "More printed material in foreign languages."
[162]
— "Good provision in a number of languages
other than English." [163]
— "In view of the number of foreign visitors
visiting the Palace of Westminster, it would be useful to have
guides to guide in French, German and other languages." [164]
— "For UK citizens—especially students
of all ages—from areas of the country more remote from London,
a very high on-line tour (emphasising democratic role and process
of Parliament is far more useful than any tourist facility)."
[165]
— "Information about visitor and info centre
should be publicised in ethnic media. Some of us can contribute
towards this." [166]
f. Facility for Members to book rooms
A few comments were made about the provision of bookable
facilities:
— ". . .guiding/interpretive support for visitors
if bookable in advance." [167]
— "Peers must have access to at least one large
committee room where members of public can take photographs."
[168]
— "The area should be available and be booked
for private functions by firms, clubs, charities etc."[169]
— ". . .especially where members can take visitors
for a snack—bookable." [170]
g. Other suggestions for facilities within the visitor
and information centre
Members also suggested various other facilities that might
be included: storage for visitors' belongings; [171]explanation
of how to get tickets to attend debates and questions; [172]coffee/tea
facilities; [173]a
shop and cafe; [174]"quality
architecture";[175]
separate queues for Parliamentarians" visitors; [176]adequate
queuing arrangements, especially in bad weather; [177]additional
toilets for men[178]
and virtual tours. [179]
120
See Annex 1 to the Summary of Responses from Members of the House
of Commons Back
121
Anon Back
122
Baroness Cohen of Pimlico Back
123
Lord Jopling Back
124
Baroness Knight of Collingtree Back
125
Anon Back
126
Lord Tomlinson Back
127
Baroness Rawlings Back
128
Viscount Allenby of Megiddo Back
129
Anon Back
130
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe Back
131
Lord Faulkner of Worcester Back
132
Lord Maclennan of Rogart Back
133
Lord Hylton Back
134
Baroness Darcy de Knayth Back
135
Baroness Howells of St Davids Back
136
Lord Low of Dalston Back
137
Baroness Masham of Ilton Back
138
Lord Rix Back
139
Lord Walpole Back
140
Lord Adonis, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools Back
141
Anon Back
142
Baroness D'Souza Back
143
Baroness Hamwee Back
144
Baroness Massey of Darwen Back
145
Lord Renton of Mount Harry Back
146
Lord Smith of Leigh Back
147
Lord Best Back
148
Baroness Boothroyd Back
149
Lord Boston of Faversham Back
150
Lord Clark of Windermere Back
151
Lord Colwyn Back
152
Baroness Gould of Potternewton Back
153
Lord Grenfell Back
154
Baroness Ludford Back
155
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu Back
156
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Back
157
Lord Stone of Blackheath Back
158
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts Back
159
Lord Holme of Cheltenham Back
160
Lord Jenkin of Roding Back
161
Baroness Warnock Back
162
Anon Back
163
Bishop of Winchester Back
164
Lord Macaulay of Bragar Back
165
Lord Tyler Back
166
Lord Dholakia Back
167
Lord Campbell of Alloway Back
168
Lord Ahmed Back
169
Lord Haskel Back
170
Baroness Howarth of Breckland Back
171
Lord Bassam of Brighton Back
172
Lord Corbett of Castle Vale Back
173
Baroness Nicol Back
174
Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank Back
175
Lord Walpole Back
176
Lord Patel of Blackburn Back
177
Lord Vincent of Coleshill Back
178
Lord Evans of Watford Back
179
Baroness Walmsley Back
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