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1735418

registered interest
date	18/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	All-party Parliamentary Groups: Membership
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will require All Party Parliamentary Groups to publish a list of all their members.
tabling member constituency	Bolton West
tabling member printed	Phil Brickell
uin	9977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2024 answer text <p>APPGs are already required to publish a list of all their members. The reporting requirements for APPGs are set out in the Guide to the APPG Rules. Paragraph 67(b) of the Guide to the Rules requires APPGs to publish on their website, or provide on request if they do not have a website, a list of its members (both parliamentary and external).</p><p>Changes to the APPG Rules are approved by the House on the recommendation of the Committee on Standards. The Committee on Standards, not the House of Commons Commission, is responsible for updating and issuing the Guide to the APPG Rules.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 22/10/2024 06:54:22 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	5128

1734455

registered interest
date	15/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	House of Commons: Electric Vehicles
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many dedicated charging points for electric vehicles belonging to hon. Members are available in the House of Commons underground car park; how many and what proportion of those charging points are fast chargers; whether those charging points are free at the point of use; and whether an estimate has been made of the average cost to the public purse of electricity consumption from the use of those charging points during a sitting week.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
uin	9117
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2024 answer text <p>There are two dedicated electrical vehicle charging points in the underground car park. This is supplemented by 12 key controlled socket outlets that provide trickle charging. Owners with certified and PAT tested chargers can request a key to use the sockets for trickle charging. There are no fast chargers.</p><p>The New Palace Yard Underground Car Park Project is exploring the installation of new charging points. Users of these charging points would be expected to pay for the service. Currently charging is free at the point of use. No estimate has been made of the cost as consumption from these points is not measured separately.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 21/10/2024 14:15:33 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

1733630

registered interest
date	11/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Early Day Motions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the average cost was to the public purse of administering an Early Day Motion in the latest 12 months for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham Northfield
tabling member printed	Laurence Turner
uin	8730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>It is difficult to provide an accurate figure for the cost of administering an Early Day Motion as staff in the Table Office and the Procedural Publishing Unit who process EDMs have a wide range of other responsibilities and time spent exclusively on EDMs is not recorded.</p><p>We are able to provide a broad estimate based on staff time alone, but it should be noted that this takes no account of other fixed costs such as office accommodation and, notably, the cost of developing and maintaining the digital systems used to process EDMs.</p><p>The Table Office estimates that processing an EDM takes about five minutes of staff time if it is submitted electronically, 10 minutes if submitted by email and 15 minutes if submitted in hard copy.</p><p>The approximate staff costs (based on 2023 payscales) for processing EDMs by the Table Office are:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Submission method</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Table Office staff cost</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Electronically (via MemberHub)</p></td><td><p>£2.70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>By email</p></td><td><p>£4.10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hard copy</p></td><td><p>£5.50</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Although the Table Office does not record how many signatures it adds to EDMs through hard copy signatures and by email each day, we estimate that it takes approximately one minute to add each signature (at a staff cost of approximately £0.27). In 2023, there was an average of 11 signatures for each EDM.</p><p>After EDMs have been processed by the Table Office, they are published by the Procedural Publishing Unit. This involves downloading script, moving the information into a template, checking the content and publishing to the website. The process costs approximately £6.90 in staff time. The additional time for publishing each EDM is low – i.e. the cost is likely to be very similar whenever more than one EDM is published in a day. In 2023, on average eight EDMs were published on every sitting day. The average cost for publishing each EDM to the website was therefore £0.86.</p><p>In 2023, the average daily cost for printing paper copies of all EDMs tabled on each sitting day was £43.</p><p>Therefore, the average cost of administering an EDM submitted electronically in 2023 is estimated to be £11.90, which as noted above does not include certain fixed costs or expenditure on digital systems.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 16:09:15 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	5234

1733694

registered interest
date	11/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Parliament Square: Demonstrations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether House officials made representations to Westminster City Council on the application for loudspeaker consent in Parliament Square on 30 October 2024.
tabling member constituency	City of Durham
tabling member printed	Mary Kelly Foy
uin	8673
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2024 answer text <p>The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 created a ‘controlled area’ surrounding Parliament where the unauthorised use of loudspeakers, the erecting of tents and the use of ‘sleeping equipment’ is prohibited.</p><p>The Serjeant at Arms responded to a request from Westminster City Council for views on the use of a loudspeaker in Parliament Square for 30 October 2024. The Serjeant at Arms expressed objection because of the proximity to the Chamber and the significant noise this would cause whilst the Chamber is sitting.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 21/10/2024 15:38:16 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4753 label Biography information for Mary Kelly Foy

1733695

registered interest
date	11/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Parliament Square: Demonstrations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the Commission's policy is on objecting to applications received by Westminster City Council for loudspeaker consent in Parliament Square when the House is sitting.
tabling member constituency	City of Durham
tabling member printed	Mary Kelly Foy
uin	8674
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2024 answer text <p>Decisions over loudspeaker consent in Parliament Square are handled by the Serjeant at Arms. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis and takes into consideration the sitting of the House and Committees, other business planned for the day, the location of the loudspeaker equipment, noise level from equipment and other considerations pertinent to the particular case. The House authorities recognise the importance of legitimate protest to our democracy; they also have a responsibility to ensure that the House is able to transact its business effectively.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 21/10/2024 15:42:27 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4753 label Biography information for Mary Kelly Foy

1733289

registered interest
date	10/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Members: ICT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress the Commission has made on enabling (a) generative AI and (b) other new technologies to support members.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	8444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The House Authorities, in conjunction with the House of Lords administration and Parliamentary Digital Service, have been actively exploring the potential for AI, and other new technologies, to support the work of Members. A recent example includes the creation of the online portal for the registration of MPs’ financial interests released in spring 2024.</p><p>PDS is undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of Microsoft’s Co-Pilot AI tool, which includes AI for mailboxes. This could aid Members and staff in their management of day-to-day administrative activities and involves learning from Government departments which are testing its use. Before a pilot of Co-Pilot could happen within Parliament, there are important information rights protections to put in place to make sure that sensitive information is handled appropriately. Steps to put those protections in place are taking place in coming months.</p><p>Parliament’s Information and Digital Strategy sets out both an ambition to ensure that the Houses are exploring the opportunities and risks of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and to be more focused on meeting the needs of Members in the delivery of digital services.</p><p>To support these ambitions, an AI Working Group has been convened with representatives of departments across both Houses coordinating and considering how best to enable the use of generative AI. A Digital Innovation Lab has been established to provide a safe testing ground for the use of AI and other emerging technologies, and initial proofs of concepts are being developed for the use of AI to support the work of Hansard and the Table Office. House staff and PDS are working closely with Government departments to understand their use of AI (in particular the development of the Redbox tool which can summarise documents and briefings, and whether there is potential application in Parliament).</p><p>To support Members specifically, guidance is being prepared on the safe use of AI in relation to Parliamentary duties. AI learning materials are also being curated, as well as opportunities to learn more through seminar-style events. Both the guidance and learning should become available over the autumn.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:59:21 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1732832

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Parliamentary Estate: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many holders of each pass type have access to the parliamentary estate.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8180
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The number of passes on issue changes constantly, so the following represents a snapshot of data recorded on 10 October 2024:</p><ul><li>MPs: 648</li><li>Peers: 832</li><li>MPs’ staff: 1,589</li><li>Peers’ staff: 333</li><li>Staff of the Administrations - House of Commons, House of Lords, and Parliamentary Digital Service: 4,242</li><li>Metropolitan Police staff including police officers: 565</li><li>Contractors: 3,028 (blue) + 1,170 (yellow) = 4,198</li><li>Former MPs: 419</li><li>Retired Peers: 55</li><li>Political parties and whips: 181</li><li>Partners of MPs/Peers and residents: 680</li><li>Civil servants: 1,515</li><li>Media: 472</li><li>Restoration &amp; Renewal Management: 189</li></ul> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:42:27 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1732834

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Parliamentary Estate: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many parliamentary passes were not returned following the conclusion of the holder's employment in each of the last five financial years.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8181
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The database is a live pass issuing system and does not retain full historical information as data is only retained for three years or less depending on the pass category, so is continually being deleted in line with our records retention policy.</p><p>The vast majority of passes are returned promptly after they expire or are invalidated. The following figures show the number of expired passes not returned by financial year; however please note all these passes were deactivated and would not allow access to the Parliamentary estate.</p><p>Financial year 2021–2022: 513</p><p>Financial year 2022–2023: 432</p><p>Financial year 2023–2024: 392</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:46:36 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1732835

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Parliamentary Estate: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many parliamentary passes were (a) lost and (b) stolen in each of the last five financial years.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The database is a live pass issuing system and does not retain full historical information as data is only retained for three years or less depending on the pass category, so is continually being deleted in line with our records retention policy. The following figures show the number of passes reported as lost or stolen by financial year; however please note all these passes were promptly deactivated and would not allow access to the Parliamentary estate.</p><p>Financial year 2021–2022: 43</p><p>Financial year 2022–2023: 76</p><p>Financial year 2023–2024: 62</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:51:44 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1732836

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Parliamentary Estate: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will publish a list of special advisers who have had a parliamentary pass in each of the last five financial years.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>We are unable to provide this information, as the pass issuing system does not categorise passholders in this way. Special advisers are not a specific category of passholder, and therefore this information could not easily be obtained from the pass data system. In any event, it would be inconsistent with data protection principles to publish such a list.</p><p>It would not be appropriate to publish the personal data collected for the purposes of security pass allocation as this would not be consistent with data protection principles, therefore we are unable to provide a list of civil servants holding passes. As noted above, it would be inconsistent with data protection principles to publish personal data collected for security purposes in this way, and therefore the Commission is unable to provide such a list.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith grouped question UIN 8184 question first answered 17/10/2024 15:54:57 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney