To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the current lighting in the Chamber of the House.

Following the agreement of both the Select Committee on Broadcasting and the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee, a prototype of the proposed permanent chandeliers is to be installed at Easter. Subject then to early approval of the design and the availability of funds, the plan is to replace the temporary chandeliers during the summer recess.

Does my right hon. Friend accept that we shall all be glad to see an end to this lighting, including the heat that comes from the lights? Will he arrange for Members to be consulted on the future programme of lighting in the House?

When my hon. Friend sees the prototype, he will agree that it is a considerable advance on what we have now and an attractive design. We hope that it will be available for all Members of the House to look at and that it will be possible for them to comment on the design before the chandeliers are installed and decisions taken on them.