The House of Commons authorities today reversed the decision to ban the Scout Association from lobbying MPs in Westminster Hall following the intervention of the newly elected Speaker, John Bercow. In a brief statement, the Commons authorities said:-

The issue of the cub scouts and Westminster Hall raised by Martin Salter MP, Stephen Pound MP and Julian Brazier MP has been drawn to the attention of the Speaker and Serjeant-at-Arms.

The Speaker welcomes the visit by the cub scouts to the House of Commons on July 15 and has given permission to allow the cub scouts to meet MPs in Westminster Hall.

Reading West MP Martin Salter strongly criticised the House of Commons authorities yesterday 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 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 contacted Commons Speaker John Bercow asking him to intervene and overturn the decision.

Mr Salter has also tabled a cross-party Early Day Motion (1820) protesting at the decision which attracted the support of 28 MPs.

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:-

“I’m extremely grateful to MPs of all parties who put their weight behind our campaign to allow young people the same facilities as anybody else in order to raise their concerns with Parliamentarians. The intervention of the Speaker on the side of the Scouts was clearly the deciding factor and I trust that we won’t be seeing a repeat of these ridiculous rulings again. The Commons authorities should be welcoming young people into the Palace of Westminster, not putting obstacles in their way.”

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

“The Scout Association believes passionately that young people have a right to be heard. and their views taken into account whatever their age.  That’s why we are grateful for the intervention of the new speaker John Bercow, to ensure that our young members are able to lobby their MP over their concerns about Ofwat’s proposed Rain Tax and its impact on community groups across England and Wales.  We also want to thank Martin Salter, Julian Brazier, and Steve Pound for their assistance in raising this issue with him.”