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1277736

	registered interest
	date	18/01/2021
	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	House of Commons: Coronavirus
	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, what assessment has been made of trends in the level of sickness-related absence of staff working on the Parliamentary estate since March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	138925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2021 answer text <p>Levels of sickness absence are regularly reviewed and discussed weekly in the Covid operations group and in the weekly Trade Union meetings.</p><p>Sickness data is recorded for staff where they are unavailable to work due to illness. As the estate has seen different levels of required staff attendance over the last 12 months, comparison between periods is of limited use.</p><p>Absence rates have been reviewed against those from other areas of the public sector. Increases in absence can be identified in March 2020, December 2020 and January 2021.</p><p>The absence rates in the House have remained at comparable levels to previous years and below the wider public sector.</p><p /><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Description</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>APR</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>MAY</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>JUN</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>JUL</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>AUG</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>SEPT</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>OCT</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>NOV</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>DEC</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average working days lost per employee</p></td><td><p>5.09</p></td><td><p>4.94</p></td><td><p>4.71</p></td><td><p>4.66</p></td><td><p>4.58</p></td><td><p>4.43</p></td><td><p>4.33</p></td><td><p>4.23</p></td><td><p>5.39</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>% long term sick</p></td><td><p>58.55%</p></td><td><p>59.24%</p></td><td><p>59.09%</p></td><td><p>61.33%</p></td><td><p>62.01%</p></td><td><p>62.10%</p></td><td><p>63.68%</p></td><td><p>66.06%</p></td><td><p>52.61%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p /><p>Please note the data is based on a rolling 12-month period, so the data for December 2020 is from 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2020.</p><p>The average working days lost per employee is the number of working days lost in the rolling 12-month period divided by the staff headcount.</p><p>The % long term sick is the percentage of sickness absences which were part of a period of absence of over 28 calendar days in the rolling 12-month period.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 26/01/2021 18:39:32 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart previous answer version 76239 answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1182690

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2020
	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	House of Commons: Staff
	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, which nationalities are represented among House of Commons staff.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh West
	tabling member printed	Christine Jardine
	uin	25179
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2020 answer text <p>Excluding staff in the Parliamentary Digital Service, the nationalities represented among House of Commons staff are in the Table attached.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 10/03/2020 18:28:05 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart attachment 1 file name HoC-Nationalities-of-staff.pdf title Nationalities represented among HoC staff previous answer version 11399 answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
	tabling member	4634 label Biography information for Christine Jardine

1278380

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2021
	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	Parliamentary Estate: Coronavirus
	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, what recommendations have been received from Public Health England since November 2020 on the circumstances in which the suspension of work on the Parliamentary estate would be advisable owing to the increased risk of infection from covid-19.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	140175
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2021 answer text <p>Public Health England has confirmed that the measures put in place to ensure the House remains Covid secure are appropriate to manage the risk of infection. As the risks are being managed, Public Health England has issued no advice around where suspension of work on the estate may be necessary.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 26/01/2021 17:44:08 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart previous answer version 76987 answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1278378

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2021
	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	Parliamentary Estate: Coronavirus
	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, what advice has been received since November 2020 from Public Health England on the risks of people continuing to work on the Parliamentary estate contracting covid-19; and if he will publish that advice.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	140174
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2021 answer text <p>Public Health England has supported the House in responding to Covid-19 throughout the past 12 months. Its advice, in conjunction with the working safely guidance which is available to all workplaces, has been incorporated into the <em>Working safely on the Parliamentary estate during the coronavirus outbreak risk assessment</em>. This document has been updated to reflect any changes any in the situation, with the most recent published on 14 January. The assessment is available for anyone to view on the Parliamentary website:</p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/contentassets/d23db9b1eb174243ae97bda14ca82613/hop-v4-hop-covid-risk-assessment--issued.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/contentassets/d23db9b1eb174243ae97bda14ca82613/hop-v4-hop-covid-risk-assessment--issued.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 26/01/2021 17:42:39 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart previous answer version 76986 answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

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

1133249

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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	Members' Staff: General Practitioners
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether Members' staff can (a) register with and (b) access an on-site medical doctor.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	266763
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Members’ staff cannot register with nor access an on-site medical doctor as there are none on-site. There are occupational health physicians who work within the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service (PHWS) via a contract with Guys and St Thomas’ hospital. Managers can refer their staff to PHWS for advice and support if they feel that their health is being affected by their work. Members of Parliament can seek occupational health advice for their staff via the Members HR advisory service.</p> answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake question first answered 02/07/2019 16:19:30 answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake previous answer version 125150 answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1127135

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	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	Palace of Westminster: Industrial Health and Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, on how many occasions falling debris has been recorded at the Palace of Westminster in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	255343
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>There have been eight recorded stone falls at the Palace of Westminster over the last 12 months. No injuries were sustained.</p> answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake question first answered 23/05/2019 15:54:19 answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake previous answer version 119456 answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1138849

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	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	Members' Staff: Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the Commission has to improve the working conditions for Members' staff.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	277112
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2019 answer text <p>Members’ staff are regularly consulted on service issues by House authorities. These consultations include regular meetings between House staff and MPs’ staff representative bodies, and invitations to focus groups to feed into service design. A sample of Members’ staff have also recently been surveyed on how effective the services provided by the House are for them. There is also an annual meeting between House staff and MPs’ staff bodies (specifically Members and Peers Staff Association and Unite) at which service issues can be raised.</p><p>More recently, the House of Commons Commission has discussed the Gemma White review, and it welcomed the broad thrust of the recommendations made, which included better HR services for Members’ staff and how the sense of isolation that they feel can be addressed. They have asked the House Administration to carry out further work to examine the practical steps that can be taken in response to it.</p><p>Terms and conditions of service for Members’ staff fall within the remit of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.</p> answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake question first answered 24/07/2019 12:25:47 answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake previous answer version 129857 answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1133757

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	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	House of Commons: Security
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reasons security officers in the House of Commons are entitled to a break of two hours and 15 minutes in each eight hour shift; and what assessment the Commission has made of the comparative value for money of such contracts.
	tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
	tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
	uin	267363
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>House Staff are paid for working hours only, i.e. 36 hours net per week for full time staff. In accordance to their contracts, full-time staff have a one hour unpaid break each day / shift. The rest of the breaks received by the Security staff, which are over and above their contractual arrangements, are a legacy carried over from the Metropolitan Police working practices since 2016. The House is currently in discussion with the union about the introduction of a new roster and rest breaks.</p> answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake question first answered 02/07/2019 16:32:45 answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake previous answer version 125231 answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake
	tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

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