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101182

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	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	Serjeant at Arms
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, who the candidates were for the post of Serjeant at Arms on the last occasion on which it was advertised.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	211941
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2014 answer text <p>The post of Serjeant at Arms was last advertised in 2012. The successful applicant was Lawrence Ward. Candidates applied in confidence: it is not the Commission's practice to disclose the names of the unsuccessful applicants as this would breach their expectation of confidentiality.</p> answering member constituency Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross answering member printed John Thurso question first answered 31/10/2014 10:39:13 answering member 1399 label Biography information for Viscount Thurso
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

101183

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	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	Television
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will take steps to reward the teams who have installed and successfully delivered digital television feeds including BBC local news and European Parliament, Committee Room, Welsh Assembly, and Scottish Parliament proceedings to offices on the Estate.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	211942
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2014 answer text <p>The Commission acknowledges the challenges involved in changing the unique and complex system that serves over 2,200 screens across Parliament and 20 government departments, and commends the House Service for the smooth changeover. Engineering, project management, maintenance and commercial staff were involved, together with the suppliers and sub-contractors, and Parliament’s long-serving on-site Annunciator technicians. I have nothing to offer as reward beyond my heartfelt thanks.</p><p>The teams involved are delighted that this project has been singled out for acknowledgement by the hon. Member for Lichfield, and are grateful for his support in the early days of defining the system requirements, during his time on the Administration Committee.</p> answering member constituency Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross answering member printed John Thurso question first answered 31/10/2014 11:00:33 answering member 1399 label Biography information for Viscount Thurso
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1170327

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	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	Big Ben
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will allow Big Ben to chime at 11pm GMT on 31 January 2020 to mark the UK leaving the EU; what estimate has been made of the cost of activating the clock mechanism to enable those chimes; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	2417
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2020 answer text <p>The Speaker has indicated that this is a matter for Members of the House of Commons. The House of Commons Commission will respond to any decision of the House on this matter. In the absence of any such decision, the Commission's position on the sounding of Big Ben remains unchanged.</p><p>For the Bell to ring on 31 January, the temporary striking mechanism used for Remembrance Sunday and New Year's Eve would need to be reattached and tested to ensure the timing is correct. Alongside this work, a temporary floor of the belfry where Big Ben is housed would also need to be installed, as extensive work is currently taking place in this area. The cost for the temporary floor and installing, testing and striking Big Ben would be approximately £120,000.</p><p>In addition to the set-up, the delay to work in the belfry would push back the planned programme of works by two to four weeks, with each week of delays costing approximately £100,000 a week. As such, the minimum cost of sounding Big Ben would be £320,000 but could be much higher (up to £500,000). These costs are based on a notice period of approximately two weeks. Should the project team be required to strike the bell with less notice, these costs would increase substantially.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 15/01/2020 23:47:42 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1182402

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2020
	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: Hygiene
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether hand sanitisers can be installed on portable stands throughout the Parliamentary Estate.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	24236
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2020 answer text <p>In-House Services did try to purchase these through their supplier; however due to the current high demand for sanitisers and sanitiser units there was a 3–4 week delivery time. They have therefore purchased the units without stands and requested that the Parliamentary Maintenance Services Team (PMST) provide suitable stands.</p><p>In-House Services are currently awaiting delivery of the dispensers, and PMST are in the process of making the stands.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 05/03/2020 14:42:42 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1283995

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2021
	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	Speaker: Ceremonies
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will (a) restore as its home and (b) exhibit the Speaker's State Coach at the Palace of Westminster.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	149158
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2021 answer text <p>The Speaker’s State Coach is currently on loan to the National Trust for display at their Carriage Museum at Arlington Court in Devon. The current loan contract is being renewed for two additional years to allow full consideration to be given to the future of the coach.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 09/02/2021 18:14:45 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1453556

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2022
	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	Big Ben
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate the Commission has made of when the (a) four faces of the clock in the Elizabeth Tower will be (i) operating with the correct time and (ii) fully illuminated and (b) chimes will be reinstated.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	145802
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2022 answer text <p>The Elizabeth Tower and the Great Clock are currently undergoing the most extensive conservation project carried out in the 160 years since Big Ben and the quarter bells began to strike.</p><p>Following conservation off-site, the clock mechanism – which usually powers the hammers that strike the Great Bell (Big Ben) and the four quarter bells – is currently being re-installed in the Tower and tested.</p><p>Dusty works are still ongoing in the ventilation shaft of the Tower, which has required the hands of the West Dial to be kept stationary to prevent damage to both the hands and the mechanism itself.</p><p>The clock hands on the West Dial are scheduled to start operating again towards the end of Spring, once these works have completed. The illumination of the dials and the return of regular striking of the bells is set to resume before the conservation project completes in the Summer.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 28/03/2022 16:09:23 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1462098

	registered interest
	date	11/05/2022
	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	Richmond House
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the potential merits of increasing external access to Richmond House.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	585
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2022 answer text <p>The Commission has not made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing external access to Richmond House and there are no plans to open the entrance into Richmond House from Whitehall. The House of Commons Commission’s decision to house Members and their staff in Richmond House was for three years from summer 2021, and the scope of this light refresh did not include opening up this entrance.</p><p>In order to open up access there would be a need for intrusive infrastructure works. There would also be an increase in operational costs as the entrance would need to be manned by Met Police. Any opening up of the Whitehall entrance would need to be evaluated against the decision of the Commission (for the three-year period) and other necessary changes to provide adequate physical security arrangements for passholders entering and exiting the building at this location would also be required.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 18/05/2022 14:30:05 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1462602

	registered interest
	date	12/05/2022
	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: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps are being taken by the Commission to ensure that Members and their staff are not (a) harassed, (b) obstructed, (c) shouted at, or (d) intimidated by professional agitators in the proximity of the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	1084
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2022 answer text <p>The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is working with the Parliamentary Security Department to identify Members and staff who have reported the behaviour. This includes identifying those who are able and willing to provide a signed statement which with a statutory declaration can be used for criminal justice purposes. Officers are assessing each occasion that we are aware of, taking into account behaviour; the current law; and the latest guidance on protest from case law. This has taken time. Some witnesses do not want to give statements or are unwilling to go to court; without such testimony it makes any legal action very unlikely. In addition, some behaviour does not constitute a criminal offence when viewed in isolation; without witness statements, building a persuasive case around persistent behaviour is very difficult.</p><p>The Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation (PLaIT) are considering all options once they have identified what statements can be obtained, and assessing the evidence provided against the relevant legislation. PLaIT will work in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who are the ultimate decision maker on whether to prosecute and what for. It is worth noting that hearsay evidence is inadmissible in court, therefore statements need to be gathered from the principal witness, which outline the impact and can be tested in court. Even if a police officer witnessed the event, there would still need to be a victim statement which evidences the offences and impact.</p><p>There is a long history of protest outside Parliament and a number of pieces of statute legislation have been put in place to moderate protest activity. Article 9, 10 and 11 of the Human Rights Act 1998 gives the freedom of thought, expression and assembly/association, and these rights mean that protest legislation remains one of the most contested in the courts; the resulting case law provides an ever changing interpretation of the laws. Therefore the use of legislation, especially new legislation, which interferes in the rights to protest needs to be carefully considered, be proportionate and likely to succeed.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 17/05/2022 16:38:14 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1551584

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2022
	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: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the decision was made by the Commission to decant Members and other personnel from Norman Shaw North to Richmond House; and what estimate was made by the Commission of how long those personnel would have to remain in Richmond House before they could move back to Norman Shaw North.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	110565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2022 answer text <p>At its meeting on 20 July 2020 the Commission agreed MPs and their staff could be offered office space in the former Department of Health building, Richmond House, initially for a minimum period of three years – to enable urgent refurbishment work to take place on the northern end of the Parliamentary Estate. At that meeting the Commission also agreed to look at a revised plan to use Richmond House as accommodation and to create better welfare facilities for staff.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 20/12/2022 13:43:16 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1551678

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2022
	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	Richmond House
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects Richmond House no longer to be used for offices for Members of Parliament.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	110566
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2022 answer text <p>Given the continued pressure on space and desire for more space for Members, it is possible that offices for Members are still provided in Richmond House even after re-opening of Norman Shaw North, particularly if other buildings on the parliamentary estate follow similar refurbishments.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 20/12/2022 13:44:28 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant