M.P.S ’ complaint

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32568, 30 March 1971, Page 17

M.P.S ’ complaint

(NZPA.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, Mar. 29. Some of Britain’s 26 women members of Parliament have complained that they are being given a dirty deal in the House of Commons, where only one bath is at their disposal. But baths are not their only problem. One Labour M.P., Dr Shirley Summerskill, said yesterday that there was still an implicit understanding, where every facility from baths to hairdressers were available to male M.P.s. that the House of Commons was designed as a men’s club. “I object that some doors in the House are marked: *M.P.s Only,’ only to find out

after walking through them that they are to men’s lavatories,” she said. “And one bath for 26 women on a hot night when there is an all-night sitting is not enough.” A Conservative M.P., Mrs Sally Oppenheim, who appeared in the House at such a sitting last week in dressinggown and slippers, commented: “You get to feel so dirty; it would be nice to have adequate facilities.” The paucity of bathing facilities issue will be raised in the House this week by a Conservative member, Mr Anthony Fell. During the all-night debate on the Government’s controversial Industrial Relations Bill, someone told him how fresh he looked after taking a bath, and a woman M.P. told him that he did not realise how lucky he was.