Order! Hon members, I'm sure today some of our members are now becoming familiar with this new Chamber. The other Chambers are being renovated, which is why we are here. I want to draw attention to the seating arrangements.
I was saying to members the other day that we follow the tradition of the Westminster system of having an opposition and a ruling party. Those who have been to the House of Commons and know its brief history would know that there is a certain amount of space between the seats. The space between the seats is the length of two swords. You would remember that during the time of Oliver Cromwell, the English were allowed to come into the Chamber with swords - those who were wearing swords. So, if you were on one of the sides and wearing a sword and you felt angry about what a member was saying and you drew your sword, you wouldn't be able to stab that person. That is why their Chamber is laid out in that fashion.
I am going to ask the hon Minister of Defence and Military Veterans if she is comfortable with the space between ... [Laughter.] Nobody is carrying a sword.