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1170507

	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: Festivals and Special Occasions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost was of Big Ben chiming on (a) Remembrance Sunday 2019 and (b) New Year's Eve 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Rayleigh and Wickford
	tabling member printed	Mr Mark Francois
	uin	2442
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The costs associated with striking Big Ben on Remembrance Sunday and New Year's Eve in 2019 were £14.2k including VAT <ins class="ministerial">in total.</ins> <del class="ministerial">on each occasion.</del></p><p>The striking of Big Ben on these occasions was coordinated around the planned works so as to minimise the impact on the project costs and to ensure it did not result in any delay. If the project team are required to strike the bell with less notice, the costs would substantially increase due to the unexpected impact on the project schedule.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 16/01/2020 20:09:42 question first ministerially corrected 19/02/2020 08:40:44 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford previous answer version 1393 answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois

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

1168405

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	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, whether the Commission has received a request from the Government to arrange for Big Ben to chime to mark the UK's departure from the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	154
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>The House of Commons Commission has not received a request from the Government to arrange for Big Ben to chime to mark the UK’s departure from the EU.</p><p>The Commission is aware of EDM No. 2, tabled by the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford, which calls on Mr Speaker and the House Authorities to make arrangements for Big Ben to chime at 11.00 pm on 31 January 2020.</p><p>The Commission is further aware that an amendment in the names of Mark Francois and other signatories has been tabled to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill that moves the following clause;</p><p>Exit day chimes of Big Ben</p><p>(1) The United Kingdom leaves the European Union, in accordance with Article 50 (2) of the Treaty on European Union, at 11.00pm Greenwich Mean Time on Friday 31 January 2020.</p><p>(2) The Speaker of the House of Commons and the Corporate Officer of the House of Commons, together with any other relevant parliamentary authorities, must make arrangements for the occasion in subsection (1) to be marked by the sounding of the hourly chimes including eleven strikes of the principal bell (Big Ben) of the Great Clock in the Elizabeth Tower of the Houses of Parliament at 11.00pm Greenwich Mean Time on Friday 31 January 2020.</p><p>In May 2018, the Commission agreed that, during the Elizabeth Tower refurbishment project, Big Ben should sound only for Remembrance Sunday, Armistice Day and over the New Year.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 07/01/2020 13:30:44 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

387874

	registered interest
	date	06/07/2015
	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	Westminster Hall: Cafes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Mole Valley representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent assessment the Commission has made of the profitability of the Jubilee Café.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	5608
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2015 answer text <p>For the financial year ending 2014/15 the Jubilee Café made a positive contribution of £22.8k to reducing the net cost of catering to the House of Commons.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 09/07/2015 09:38:47 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

388314

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2015
	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	Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Mole Valley representing the House of Commons Commission, what mechanisms the Commission has put in place for assessing the value for money of each of the options for restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	5925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2015 answer text <p>The House of Commons Commission and the House of Lords House Committee asked for the independent appraisal of options for restoring and renewing the Palace of Westminster that was published on 18 June. The IOA does not test value for money as such, because it is not yet possible to quantify the benefits of the different options in cash terms. Instead it recommends that value for money should be tested in the course of drawing up a business case in the next phase. The Commission expects value for money to be central to the work of the Joint Committee that is to be set up to take this matter forward.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 09/07/2015 09:36:36 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

387088

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2015
	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: Art Works
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Mole Valley representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2015 to Question 3834, how many items were in the Parliamentary Art Collection on 31 March 2000; and what the current valuation for insurance purposes is of those items.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	uin	5197
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2015 answer text <p>On 31 March 2000 there were 6,704 items in the House of Commons art collection.<br><br>There is no insurance valuation as the House of Commons, like the Civil Service, self-insures for these items.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 07/07/2015 12:54:12 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

386731

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2015
	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: Defibrillators
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Mole Valley representing the House of Commons Commission, where defibrillator units are located on the Parliamentary Estate; and how often they are serviced to ensure they are working.
	tabling member constituency	Montgomeryshire
	tabling member printed	Glyn Davies
	uin	4743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2015 answer text <p>There are 18 Defibrillators across the Parliamentary estate in the following locations:<br><br>Palace of Westminster</p><ul><li>Lower Waiting Hall</li><li>Members’ Lobby</li><li>Peers’ Lobby</li><li>River Restaurant</li><li>Victoria Tower</li><li>Engineers’ Control</li><li>Cromwell Green Visitor Entrance</li><li>Elizabeth Tower – top floor</li><li>Elizabeth Tower – room one</li><li>Peers’ Entrance</li></ul><p><br>7 Millbank</p><ul><li>7 Millbank reception</li><li>Health &amp; Wellbeing Service (4th floor)</li></ul><p><br>Millbank House</p><ul><li>House of Lords Library / Reception area</li></ul><p><br>6/7 Old Palace Yard</p><ul><li>Reception (whilst this building is being refurbished the defibrillator is being held in Millbank House reception)</li></ul><p><br>Norman Shaw North</p><ul><li>Reception</li></ul><p><br>Canon Row</p><ul><li>Westminster Gym</li></ul><p><br>14 Tothill Street</p><ul><li>Reception</li></ul><p><br>Portcullis House</p><ul><li>Digital Services Desk</li></ul><p><br>Defibrillators are checked weekly to ensure that they are working, and receive a full service annually.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 07/07/2015 12:53:21 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	4041 label Biography information for Glyn Davies

385977

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2015
	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: Procurement
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Mole Valley representing the House of Commons Commission, whether all contractors supplying a service to the House have now been signed up as living wage employers.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	4404
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2015 answer text <p>We can confirm that all contractors and their sub-contractors providing services to the House have agreed to pay the living wage or London living wage to those of their staff working on contracts for the House. Payment of the living wage or London living wage is included within our Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 01/07/2015 10:17:45 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

385070

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2015
	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: Art Works
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Mole Valley representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate the Commission has made of the value of all art held on the parliamentary estate.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	uin	3834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2015 answer text <p>The value of the Parliamentary Art Collection at the House of Commons, as recorded in the published annual accounts for the financial year 2013/14 was £6.7 million. The accounts for 2014/15, to be laid before the House prior to the Summer Recess, will contain an updated valuation.<br><br>For valuation purposes, the Parliamentary Art Collection at the House of Commons is divided into two categories; those items held as at 31 March 2000 and those items acquired since that date. No valuation for the Collection at 31 March 2000 is currently included on the Statement of Financial Position because obtaining a valuation for a collection of this size and diversity would be costly. During 2012/13, it was decided that the benefit from a valuation exercise would not justify the expense incurred. The House has no plans to conduct such a valuation.<br><br>Acquisitions since 1 April 2000 have either been made by purchase or donation. Purchases are recorded at cost and donations are recorded at the value current at the date of acquisition, ascertained by the House’s Curator of Works of Art with reference, where possible, to commercial markets using recent transaction information from auctions.</p> answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 30/06/2015 09:35:33 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

381541

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2015
	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: Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Mole Valley representing the House of Commons Commission, how many apprenticeships are available on the parliamentary estate.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	2747
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text The House Service runs an apprenticeship scheme that offers 10 placements each year. The scheme was launched in 2013. Apprentices complete a 12-month placement, studying to NVQ levels 2 or 3. The first cohort of 10 apprentices studied and completed an NVQ in Business Administration, and all 10 secured jobs at the end of their apprenticeship with the House Service. The second cohort started in September 2014, with one studying for a Professional Cookery level 3 qualification. The House of Commons does not hold definitive information about the number of apprentices working for contractors on the estate. However, there are at least 13 apprentices currently working on the estate who are employed by contractors. answering member constituency Mole Valley answering member printed Sir Paul Beresford question first answered 22/06/2015 14:20:05 answering member 103 label Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead