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1462610

	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	Opening of Parliament: Costs
	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 the cost to the House administration has been in (a) preparing and conducting the State Opening of Parliament and (b) providing officials with ceremonial garments for the State Opening of Parliament in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	1111
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2022 answer text <p>The main costs incurred for State Opening relate to maintenance works to support areas such as broadcasting and digital, as well as the installation works for the Royal Gallery, Robing Room, House of Lords Chamber and other areas. Costs are incurred for labour, both directly employed and specialist contractors, as well as transportation for items held in storage off site and the works required to the security barriers around St Stephens entrance.</p><p>Costs are split between the House of Commons, who pay 60%, and the House of Lords, who pay 40%. The table shows the House of Commons share for the last five years. Data for May 2022 is not yet available. In 2018 and 2020 there was no State Opening, while there were two in 2019.</p><p /> <p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><em>£, House of Commons share</em></p></td><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>2021</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Staff salaries</p></td><td><p>25,216</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>33,516</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>18,740</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other staff costs</p></td><td><p>224</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Direct works</p></td><td><p>125,545</p></td><td><p>4,374</p></td><td><p>320,090</p></td><td><p>-594</p></td><td><p>107,628</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other</p></td><td><p>10,341</p></td><td><p>11,050</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>10,622</p></td><td><p>10,710</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total (House of Commons)</p></td><td><p>161,326</p></td><td><p>15,424</p></td><td><p>353,606</p></td><td><p>10,028</p></td><td><p>137,387</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br>Other minor identifiable costs for the House of Commons not related to maintenance for State Opening in 2022 are shown in the table below.</p><p /> <p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Security pass provision (Commons share of 70%): £2,500</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Sign Language provision and audio description: £1,400</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br>Ceremonial dress is purchased for roles in the House of Commons when needed during the year or when postholders change. Data on ceremonial uniform costs cannot be separated from other uniform spending.</p><p /> <p>Chamber related teams, including Clerks, the Speaker and their office, the Serjeant and their team of doorkeepers, require uniform supplies throughout the year. Total uniform expenditure for these functions over the last five years is shown below. Most of this spend relates to uniform for day to day use during the normal business of the House as well as supporting events and work outside the Chamber.</p><p /> <p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018/19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019/20</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020/21</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021/22</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Uniform expenditure (Clerks, Speaker team, Serjeant team)</p></td><td><p>£17,824</p></td><td><p>£13,403</p></td><td><p>£25,607</p></td><td><p>£25,197</p></td><td><p>£23,285</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This answer does not represent the full cost of State Opening, or costs directly incurred by the House of Lords. Costs will also have been incurred by other bodies, which may include Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police and the Royal Household.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 20/05/2022 12:32:46 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 816 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1541941

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2022
	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	Portcullis House: Trees
	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 plans there are to use the space previously occupied by fig trees in the Portcullis House Atrium.
	tabling member constituency	Basildon and Billericay
	tabling member printed	Mr John Baron
	uin	86409
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2022 answer text <p>The trees in Portcullis House were removed as they had become root bound, and as a result were no longer viable.</p><p>House teams are developing plans for the space in the Portcullis House atrium now the trees have been removed. The Administration Committee will be consulted later this year on the plans as they evolve.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 23/11/2022 16:12:11 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	1390 label Biography information for Mr John Baron

1401814

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2022
	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	House of Commons: Employment
	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 provisions there are in House of Commons employment contracts to protect the confidentiality of work done in the House of Commons, including in the event that employment ceases.
	tabling member constituency	Basingstoke
	tabling member printed	Mrs Maria Miller
	uin	101662
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2022 answer text <p>All employees of the House are required to sign a confidentially statement at the start of their employment. The confidentiality statement not only refers to handling personal information but also Classified and Official Secret information too. There is also a statement about confidentiality in the staff handbook and, at the end of employment, a reminder of the confidentiality statement is included in the letter given to departing staff.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 19/01/2022 19:31:36 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	1480 label Biography information for Dame Maria Miller

1401817

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2022
	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	House of Commons: Dismissal
	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 the Commission's policy is on the use of non-disclosure agreements in employment severance agreements by organisations supplying goods and services.
	tabling member constituency	Basingstoke
	tabling member printed	Mrs Maria Miller
	uin	101663
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2022 answer text <p>No such policy exists nor is one in active contemplation. The use of non-disclosure agreements in severance agreements is widespread and lawful.</p><p>In entering into contracts with other organisations, we do not want to restrict their freedom of action in dealing with their own staff in line with their own terms and conditions and in accordance with the law. This is important in ensuring that our contracts are not onerous to manage for either party.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 17/01/2022 18:08:01 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 43500 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	1480 label Biography information for Dame Maria Miller

1401812

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2022
	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	House of Commons: Dismissal
	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 the Commission's policy is on the use of non-disclosure agreements as part of employment severance agreements.
	tabling member constituency	Basingstoke
	tabling member printed	Mrs Maria Miller
	uin	101660
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2022 answer text <p>The House of Commons does not include a non-disclosure clause as standard in severance (settlement) agreements with employees. The House hasn’t included them as standard since 2015, and has not used any since 2018, but there is not a blanket policy in place preventing the House from using one in appropriate circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 19/01/2022 16:04:16 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 43498 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	1480 label Biography information for Dame Maria Miller

1401813

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2022
	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	House of Commons: Dismissal
	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, how many House of Commons employment severance agreements included the use of a non-disclosure agreement in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Basingstoke
	tabling member printed	Mrs Maria Miller
	uin	101661
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2022 answer text <p>The House’s approach to the use of NDA clauses follows the 2015 Cabinet Office Guidance on Settlement Agreements, Special Severance Payments and Confidentiality Clauses on Termination of Employment. Since January 2015, it was decided that NDA clauses should no longer be included as a matter of course. Each case is considered on its merits.</p><p>The figures for each of the last five years are:</p><p>2021 – nil</p><p>2020 – nil</p><p>2019 – nil</p><p>2018 – 2 agreements with NDAs</p><p>2017 – 6 agreements with NDAs</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 17/01/2022 14:29:32 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 43499 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	1480 label Biography information for Dame Maria Miller

1464656

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2022
	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: Conduct
	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 risks to (a) staff and (b) other hon. Members of Members who are under investigation for serious sexual misconduct not being required to stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	5648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2022 answer text <p>The House of Commons Commission has not made any such assessment but, when the House authorities are notified of an arrest, a safeguarding concern or certain other investigations relating to serious sexual misconduct, a risk assessment is undertaken. Individual risk assessments are confidential and only shared with those responsible for acting on them.</p><p>The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously and will consider this matter at its meeting on 13 June.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 30/05/2022 15:34:05 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1464654

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2022
	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: Conduct
	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, if the Commission will make it its policy to establish an inquiry into the potential creation of a mechanism for ordering that a Member should stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices while under investigation for serious sexual misconduct; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	5646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2022 answer text <p>The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously. The Commission has heard representations from trade union representatives on this matter and will give it further consideration at its meeting on 13 June.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 30/05/2022 15:32:50 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1464655

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2022
	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: Conduct
	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, whether the Commission has had discussions with (a) the Chair of the Procedure Committee, (b) trade union representatives and (c) the Director of the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme on the potential merits of a mechanism for ordering that a Member should stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices while under investigation for serious sexual misconduct; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	5647
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2022 answer text <p>The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously. The Commission has heard representations from trade union representatives on this matter and will give it further consideration at its meeting on 13 June.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 30/05/2022 15:33:30 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1690058

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	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' Staff: ICT
	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 the policy of the Parliamentary Digital Service is on (a) the rights of access to parliamentary (i) emails and (ii) electronic devices for line managers of hon. Members’ staff and (b) providing access to parliamentary (A) emails and (B) electronic devices to parliamentary staff funded via short money; and whether the Parliamentary Digital Service has issued guidance to political parties on these matters.
	tabling member constituency	Bury North
	tabling member printed	James Daly
	uin	14698
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2024 answer text <p>Members are the Controllers for the personal data held by their Parliamentary offices. This includes the data and information stored on the Parliamentary-provided devices and network accounts of their Parliamentary staff, including staff funded by short money.</p><p>In almost all circumstances, access is only provided to the data held in a Member’s parliamentary account or devices (or those of their staff) by the Parliamentary digital Service (PDS) on the instruction of that Member in their capacity as Controller. This is in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) data processing contract between each Member and the Administration.</p><p>As the Controller, a Member can instruct PDS to grant themselves, or members of their Parliamentary staff, access to the accounts and devices assigned to other staff in their own office.</p><p>Devices funded by short money that have been ordered through PDS are managed by PDS. In line with the UK GDPR data processing contract between individual Members and the Administration, PDS would facilitate access to the information stored on these devices at the instruction of the Controller.</p><p>Although no specific guidance has been issued by PDS to political parties on this issue, the Administrations of both Houses of Parliament have a data processing contract that applies to Controllers using Parliament’s IT systems. The contract for Members of both Houses includes a service description that sets out how Members are using Parliament’s IT systems to process the personal data which they are responsible for.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 29/02/2024 14:38:04 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	4854 label Biography information for James Daly