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446645

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2016
	answering body	The Lord Chairman of Committees
	answering dept id	200
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Chairman of Committees (HoL)
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Flowers
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Chairman of Committees how much has been spent by the House of Lords on floristry services on the Parliamentary estate for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Corston
	uin	HL5301
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2016 answer text <p>The cost of flowers for the House of Lords is set out in the table below. These costs relate primarily to flowers in catering and retail outlets, and ceremonial events, such as state visits. The cost of flowers in the House of Commons portion of the Parliamentary estate is a matter for the House of Commons Commission.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Amount</strong> (<strong>£)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>23,185</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>13,956</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>11,656</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>13,459</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16 (to December 2015)</p></td><td><p>9,276</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>These figures do not include flowers for banqueting functions and other income generating business as these costs are paid for by the customer or revenue from the event.</p><p>Catering and Retail Services keeps its expenditure on flowers under review, to ensure that it is delivering best value to the taxpayer.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 04/02/2016 14:03:47 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
	tabling member	215 label Biography information for Baroness Corston

446646

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2016
	answering body	The Lord Chairman of Committees
	answering dept id	200
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Chairman of Committees (HoL)
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Flowers
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Chairman of Committees when the current contract for floristry services is due for renewal.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Corston
	uin	HL5302
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2016 answer text <p>The floristry services contract is due for re-tender ahead of the expiration of the current contract, in September 2017.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 04/02/2016 11:49:31 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
	tabling member	215 label Biography information for Baroness Corston

89924

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2014
	answering body	The Lord Chairman of Committees
	answering dept id	200
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Chairman of Committees (HoL)
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Software
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Chairman of Committees how many Members of the House of Lords have been unable to access features such as their emails and calendars since the switch to Office 365.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
	uin	HL1766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2014 answer text <p>Between 14<sup>th</sup> July and 31<sup>st</sup> August, PICT logged cases from 237 Members which directly related to issues resulting from the migration of their mailboxes to Microsoft Office 365. The cases covered a wide variety of issues including reconfiguration of desktops, laptops and mobile devices; we do not know the number of Members who were unable to access their email or calendar.</p><p> </p><p>PICT apologises for the problems that the implementation of Office 365 caused for some Members of the House of Lords.</p> answering member printed Lord Sewel question first answered 22/09/2014 12:33:15 answering member 2124 label Biography information for Lord Sewel
	tabling member	3609 label Biography information for Baroness Finlay of Llandaff

89925

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2014
	answering body	The Lord Chairman of Committees
	answering dept id	200
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Chairman of Committees (HoL)
	hansard heading	Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology Service
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Chairman of Committees what is the mean and maximum time delay for PICT to answer telephone helpline calls from Members of the House of Lords.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
	uin	HL1767
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2014 answer text <p>The mean and maximum time for PICT to answer telephone calls to extension 2001 (the PICT Service Desk) is set out by month in the table below. These figures represent all calls to the Service Desk. Unfortunately, it is not possible to produce figures for specific customer groups.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Mean wait (minutes: seconds)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Maximum time delay (minutes: seconds)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2014</p></td><td><p>01:52</p></td><td><p>24:14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2014</p></td><td><p>01:27</p></td><td><p>21:37</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2014</p></td><td><p>01:42</p></td><td><p>17:45</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2014</p></td><td><p>01:23</p></td><td><p>20:22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2014</p></td><td><p>01:56</p></td><td><p>19:26</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2014</p></td><td><p>02:41</p></td><td><p>35:00</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2014</p></td><td><p>03:29</p></td><td><p>29:41</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2014</p></td><td><p>02:55</p></td><td><p>27:26</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>PICT aims to answer 80% of calls in 20 seconds or less and 90% of calls in 60 seconds or less.</p> answering member printed Lord Sewel question first answered 22/09/2014 12:29:51 answering member 2124 label Biography information for Lord Sewel
	tabling member	3609 label Biography information for Baroness Finlay of Llandaff

227330

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2015
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Written Questions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House what guidance she issues to Departments in respect of their providing full answers to questions for written answer, particularly when failure to answer has been followed up.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Gardner of Parkes
	uin	HL5717
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>As Leader of the House, I have a particular responsibility to encourage departments to be punctual in answering written questions, but the content of each answer is a matter for the minister concerned. All Ministers are accountable to the House for those answers. That direct accountability is important: that is why Ministers in this House must provide personally signed answers to members.</p><p> </p><p>To inform Ministers in answering questions put to them, the Ministerial Code says that “It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament”. It also makes clear that “Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and the public, refusing to provide information only when disclosure would not be in the public interest”. In addition, the longstanding rules of this House on Questions for Written Answer (rules that the House reaffirmed in agreeing to the Procedure Committee’s 5<sup>th</sup> Report of the 2014-15 Session) set out that all answers should be complete and comprehensible.</p><p> </p><p>If any member has particular concerns about a response that they have received that they consider does not adhere to these rules, I would encourage them to raise it with me directly.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston grouped question UIN HL5810 question first answered 24/03/2015 13:45:04 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
	tabling member	3596 label Biography information for Baroness Gardner of Parkes

42951

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have asked departments to end the system of check-off for trade union subscriptions for civil servants.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
	uin	HL6016
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The deduction of Trade Union subscriptions from payroll through check-off is a matter delegated to individual Departments in the Civil Service. </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Wallace of Saltaire question first answered 24/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1816 label Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire
	tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

784698

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2017
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Sexual Offences
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether any independent service is available to those working on the Lords part of the Parliamentary estate who wish to report a sexual assault.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hollins
	uin	HL2916
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>All reports of sexual assault or sexual harassment should be dealt with appropriately and with the right support. The Leaders of the two Houses have set up a Working Group on an Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy to draw up and implement a new bicameral bullying and harassment procedure. Officials from the Lords Administration are working with their Commons counterparts to support that working group.</p><p>Currently, there are a number of support services available to those who work on the Lords part of the Parliamentary Estate and who wish to report, or have reported, a sexual assault or sexual harassment. Members, Members’ staff and staff of the House have access to the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service and the five Parliamentary Workplace Equality Networks. Members’ staff and House staff may also get independent support from Employee Assistance Programmes [Health Assured for Members’ staff and Workplace Options for House staff].</p><p>For employees of the Administration, the Staff Handbook sets out the procedures for reporting harassment or bullying of any type and the support available to them. For Members and Members’ staff, reports of bullying and harassment are currently dealt with through the relevant Whips Offices or through the Convenor’s office.</p><p>Members of the House of Lords are subject to a Code of Conduct which provides guidance on the standards of conduct expected of members in the discharge of their parliamentary duties and includes a requirement to act on their personal honour. An individual can make a complaint about the conduct of a Member to the independent Commissioner for Standards who would make a preliminary assessment of whether the allegation was linked to the discharge of parliamentary duties and, if so, whether it could constitute a breach of the Code. If the preliminary assessment concluded that these two tests had been met the Commissioner would investigate the allegation in accordance with the current procedures set out in the Code. The procedures and processes for investigating complaints made under the Code were not designed with complaints of this nature in mind and this is something the Commissioner would need to advise any potential complainant about, it is also something the Committee for Privileges and Conduct will need to consider. Anyone wishing to establish whether the particular behaviour of an individual member could amount to a breach of the Code should contact the Commissioner for further information.</p><p>In addition, anyone working on the Lords part of the Estate has independent access to ACAS services and can report a sexual assault or sexual harassment to the Police.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith grouped question UIN HL2917 HL2918 question first answered 16/11/2017 12:13:03 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	4190 label Biography information for Baroness Hollins

784699

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2017
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Harassment
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what protocols and procedures with respect to harassment and bullying are available to those working on the Lords part of the Parliamentary estate, regardless of employment status or political party.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hollins
	uin	HL2917
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>All reports of sexual assault or sexual harassment should be dealt with appropriately and with the right support. The Leaders of the two Houses have set up a Working Group on an Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy to draw up and implement a new bicameral bullying and harassment procedure. Officials from the Lords Administration are working with their Commons counterparts to support that working group.</p><p>Currently, there are a number of support services available to those who work on the Lords part of the Parliamentary Estate and who wish to report, or have reported, a sexual assault or sexual harassment. Members, Members’ staff and staff of the House have access to the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service and the five Parliamentary Workplace Equality Networks. Members’ staff and House staff may also get independent support from Employee Assistance Programmes [Health Assured for Members’ staff and Workplace Options for House staff].</p><p>For employees of the Administration, the Staff Handbook sets out the procedures for reporting harassment or bullying of any type and the support available to them. For Members and Members’ staff, reports of bullying and harassment are currently dealt with through the relevant Whips Offices or through the Convenor’s office.</p><p>Members of the House of Lords are subject to a Code of Conduct which provides guidance on the standards of conduct expected of members in the discharge of their parliamentary duties and includes a requirement to act on their personal honour. An individual can make a complaint about the conduct of a Member to the independent Commissioner for Standards who would make a preliminary assessment of whether the allegation was linked to the discharge of parliamentary duties and, if so, whether it could constitute a breach of the Code. If the preliminary assessment concluded that these two tests had been met the Commissioner would investigate the allegation in accordance with the current procedures set out in the Code. The procedures and processes for investigating complaints made under the Code were not designed with complaints of this nature in mind and this is something the Commissioner would need to advise any potential complainant about, it is also something the Committee for Privileges and Conduct will need to consider. Anyone wishing to establish whether the particular behaviour of an individual member could amount to a breach of the Code should contact the Commissioner for further information.</p><p>In addition, anyone working on the Lords part of the Estate has independent access to ACAS services and can report a sexual assault or sexual harassment to the Police.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith grouped question UIN HL2916 HL2918 question first answered 16/11/2017 12:13:03 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	4190 label Biography information for Baroness Hollins

784700

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2017
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Sexual Offences
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what support is available to those working on the Lords part of the Parliamentary estate who have reported sexual assault or sexual harassment.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hollins
	uin	HL2918
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>All reports of sexual assault or sexual harassment should be dealt with appropriately and with the right support. The Leaders of the two Houses have set up a Working Group on an Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy to draw up and implement a new bicameral bullying and harassment procedure. Officials from the Lords Administration are working with their Commons counterparts to support that working group.</p><p>Currently, there are a number of support services available to those who work on the Lords part of the Parliamentary Estate and who wish to report, or have reported, a sexual assault or sexual harassment. Members, Members’ staff and staff of the House have access to the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service and the five Parliamentary Workplace Equality Networks. Members’ staff and House staff may also get independent support from Employee Assistance Programmes [Health Assured for Members’ staff and Workplace Options for House staff].</p><p>For employees of the Administration, the Staff Handbook sets out the procedures for reporting harassment or bullying of any type and the support available to them. For Members and Members’ staff, reports of bullying and harassment are currently dealt with through the relevant Whips Offices or through the Convenor’s office.</p><p>Members of the House of Lords are subject to a Code of Conduct which provides guidance on the standards of conduct expected of members in the discharge of their parliamentary duties and includes a requirement to act on their personal honour. An individual can make a complaint about the conduct of a Member to the independent Commissioner for Standards who would make a preliminary assessment of whether the allegation was linked to the discharge of parliamentary duties and, if so, whether it could constitute a breach of the Code. If the preliminary assessment concluded that these two tests had been met the Commissioner would investigate the allegation in accordance with the current procedures set out in the Code. The procedures and processes for investigating complaints made under the Code were not designed with complaints of this nature in mind and this is something the Commissioner would need to advise any potential complainant about, it is also something the Committee for Privileges and Conduct will need to consider. Anyone wishing to establish whether the particular behaviour of an individual member could amount to a breach of the Code should contact the Commissioner for further information.</p><p>In addition, anyone working on the Lords part of the Estate has independent access to ACAS services and can report a sexual assault or sexual harassment to the Police.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith grouped question UIN HL2916 HL2917 question first answered 16/11/2017 12:13:03 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	4190 label Biography information for Baroness Hollins

829567

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2018
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	Parliament: Catering
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what steps, if any, are being taken to withdraw the use of plastic straws in catering outlets and bars across the Parliamentary estate.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL5070
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2018 answer text <p>The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.</p><p>House of Lords Catering and Retail Services (CRS) will be trialling the removal of straws from customer-facing areas in the catering outlets and bars managed by CRS. If the trial is successful we envisage a significant reduction in the volume of straws used. CRS are also investigating what alternative straws are available with improved environmental credentials, for example fully biodegradable alternatives or paper straws. CRS envisage that this review, being undertaken in conjunction with colleagues in the House of Commons, will be completed by the end of February.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 07/02/2018 14:40:57 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch