Reading West MP Martin Salter has strongly criticised the House of Commons authorities for banning the Scout Association from using Westminster Hall to lobby MPs because they “are not old enough to vote”. A planned lobby of Parliament protesting over increases in water charges to voluntary groups was due to take place in Westminster Hall on 15^th July until the House authorities cancelled the booking as the 100 cub scouts were “ineligible to vote.”

Mr Salter has joined forces with Julian Brazier, Conservative MP for Canterbury and chair of the APPG on Adventure and Recreation in Society and Stephen Pound, Labour MP for Ealing North and co-chair of the APPG on Scouting. The three MPs have sent a joint letter to the Commons Speaker John Bercow asking him to intervene and overturn the decision. The letter reads:-

“We are writing to seek your assistance in allowing the Cub Scouts access to Westminster Hall for their “Stop the Rain Tax” lobby of Parliament on July 15^th. The House authorities have withdrawn permission on the ground that they are not yet eligible to vote. This is unacceptable as all constituents, regardless of age, should be free to lobby their MPs.”

Mr Salter has also tabled a cross-party Early Day Motion (1820) protesting at the decision:-

USE OF WESTMINSTER HALL BY CUB SCOUTS

That this House believes that all citizens, regardless of age, should be afforded appropriate facilities within the Palace of Westminster to assist in the lobbying of hon. Members on matters of concern; strongly disagrees with the decision to withhold permission from the Scout Association for a cub scout lobby scheduled to take place in Westminster Hall on 15 July 2009 as part of the Stop the Rain Tax campaign; and calls upon the House authorities to allow the cub scout lobby to proceed as originally planned in the interests of promoting the engagement of young people in the political process.

Mr Salter said:-

“Once again the House of Commons has shown what a deeply conservative and out of touch institution it is capable of being. On the one hand we have an excellent Parliamentary Education Unit which actively encourages the engagement of schools and young people. However yet another arm of this arcane bureaucracy appears to be doing all it can to slam the door in the face of the young people from the Scouting movement who simply want to press their case with their Members of Parliament.”

Stella Creasy, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns at the Scout Association said:-

“The cubs want to come to parliament as part of our Stop the Rain Tax Campaign because Scouting encourages young people to value democracy. That’s why its a shame they are not able to lobby their MPs within Westminster Hall. However, we’re grateful for the support of MPs of all parties that we’ve received and their commitment to helping these young people to have their views heard by their elected representatives - whether they are old enough to vote for them or not.”