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1716927

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2024
	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	Parliamentary Estate: Telephone Systems
	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, for what reason the Polycom phone system malfunctioned on 9 May 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	25405
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2024 answer text <p>I am sorry that the right hon. Member and all colleagues continue to experience inconvenience in telephony services which are currently below standard. The latest issue with handsets underlines the need for the solution which the Parliamentary Digital Service is implementing later this year.</p><p>Polycom devices need to communicate with an external supplier to register the device and make/receive calls. Each device communicates with one of two external servers. One of the servers experienced issues on Thursday 9 May and any device that attempted to connect to this server was impacted by the outage. Polycom phones communicating with the working server did not experience an outage.</p><p>The first report the Digital Service received of handsets not working was at 12.13pm on Thursday 9 May. The team declared a major incident shortly afterwards and service was restored at 9.46am on 10 May.</p><p>The Voice Programme is upgrading and replacing the existing telephony infrastructure and when implemented, handsets will have 99.999% reliability of connecting.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 15/05/2024 14:11:41 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1701365

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	House of Commons: Telephone Systems
	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 level of performance of the Polycom phone system.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	21872
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The performance of the current telephony system is not good enough and is falling short of reasonable expectation. The Parliamentary Digital Service is working hard with our suppliers and technology partners to bring the level of service up to an acceptable standard. A new solution has been procured and will be implemented later this year. I apologise to the right hon. Member and all colleagues for the inconvenience they are experiencing.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 26/04/2024 15:18:15 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1671791

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2023
	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: Telephone Systems
	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 adequacy of the telephony system on the parliamentary estate.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	2756
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>The telephone system on the parliamentary estate is the subject of a transformative programme called the Voice Programme, and a new telephony system is due to be implemented in 2024. Modernisation of the telephony system to full Voice Over Internet Protocol is also required in preparation for the decommissioning of the analogue service provided through the Public Switched Network.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 27/11/2023 18:37:29 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1623660

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2023
	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' Constituency Work
	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 is taking steps to enable retiring or defeated hon. Members to legally transfer their casework files to their successors.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	182485
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2023 answer text <p>Individual Members of Parliament (MPs) are data controllers and therefore are subject to the Data Protection Act 2018.</p><p>For the processing of non-sensitive personal data in relation to casework, Members can usually rely on the implied consent of a constituent.</p><p>There are additional protections for processing “special category” data because of its sensitivity. This type of data includes information revealing a person’s racial origin, ethnic origin, health details, sexual orientation, and political and philosophical beliefs.</p><p>For MPs, paragraphs 23 and 24 of Schedule 1 of the 2018 Act have two main functions that apply when a constituent has contacted them:</p><p /><ul><li>Paragraph 23 sets out when a Member of Parliament (or someone acting with their authority) can process certain “special category” data about an individual, in the course of the Member’s “functions as a representative” (e.g. constituency casework), without having to establish explicit consent.</li><li>Paragraph 24 allows, but does not require, others (e.g. agencies or organisations) who are contacted by Members to disclose special category personal data to them where this is necessary to help with their functions, without having to obtain the explicit consent of the individual concerned.</li></ul><p><br>Whilst provisions have been made within the Act that recognise the key role Members have in supporting constituents, the legislation also ensures the continued right of an individual over their own data. This will therefore continue to mean that individuals should have the right to decide on whether their data is transferred to a members’ successor following a General Election.</p><p>As the House is not responsible for personal data processed by MPs (constituents' data, staff data, etc.) this is not a matter for the Commission. However, the Commission is aware that the issue has been raised by the Chair of the Administration Committee, and the House Administration will continue to raise with others the challenges of dealing with casework data as well as support the processes as far as possible.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 09/05/2023 17:46:18 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 72533 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1605462

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2023
	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: Agency Workers and Temporary 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, how many temporary or agency workers were working for the House of Commons on 20 March 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	169185
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>On 20 March 2023 the number of temporary and agency workers working for the House of Commons was 205.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 17/04/2023 16:00:29 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1605125

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2023
	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: Heating
	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 is taking steps to help reduce the level of gas used for heating on the Parliamentary estate.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	167998
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The parliamentary estate is largely heated by burning natural gas in boilers.</p><p>The Restoration and Renewal (R&amp;R) Programme will consider the energy source options for the Palace of Westminster in the long run. Under the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal Act) 2019, the Corporate Officers of the Houses have a statutory duty to have regard to the need to protect the environment and to contribute to achieving sustainable development in exercising their functions. Before R&amp;R commences a number of small projects have been completed to reduce natural gas consumption, including the replacement of steam boilers with more efficient condensing gas boilers for hot water and providing localised heating sources in some areas using air source heat pumps and local electric boilers.</p><p>A portfolio of projects known as the Commons Building and Infrastructure Portfolio (CBIP) is undertaking feasibility work for the majority of the remaining buildings on the Parliamentary Estate. This work is evaluating the use of electrically powered heat pumps to heat the buildings with natural gas boilers provided as an extra form of resilience.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 30/03/2023 10:49:00 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1605126

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2023
	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: Drinks
	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 is taking steps to increase the availability of beverages produced in the UK on the Parliamentary estate.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	167999
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2023 answer text <p>The catering service, alongside the Parliamentary procurement team, is working to increase availability of UK products. It sells regional products, promoting where availability allows and collaborating with suppliers. As an example, in the last year we have introduced a range of craft UK gins. I shall write to the hon. Member with more information.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 27/03/2023 16:46:32 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 64347 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1567213

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2023
	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: Telephones
	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 the Commission is taking to help ensure reliable Polycom telephone connectivity on the Parliamentary Estate.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	123856
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2023 answer text <p>The Parliamentary Digital Service is taking steps to improve and enhance the user experience of parliamentary voice services.</p><p>A new Voice Programme commenced in June 2022 to help establish a reliable and resilient service in a way that supports current and future user needs. This is expected to include procurement of a new streamlined solution with a less complex support model. In addition, tactical solutions will be provided to address repeat issues experienced by specific users, including with handsets, to help ensure continuity of service until a stable long-term option is implemented.</p><p>Resolution speed of major telephony incidents will continue to depend on third parties until the existing telephony infrastructure is replaced. PDS will continue to strengthen third party relationships to mitigate the risk of protracted disruption.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 19/01/2023 13:23:51 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1504379

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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: Energy
	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 the House authorities are taking to reduce (a) temperature settings on the estate and (b) energy use via other means.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	45709
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>(a) Where possible Parliament follows Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) guidelines for temperature standards in offices to ensure a comfortable working environment. When rooms have temperature controls for the user, there is a small threshold of which temperature can be raised or lowered to ensure rooms are not over cooled/heated.</p><p>There are many differing levels of temperature control across the parliamentary estate, with some areas having no temperature control at all.</p><p>We review the setpoints for heating and cooling regularly.</p><p>(b) Parliamentary authorities take energy efficiency very seriously as part of its commitment to reducing its environmental impacts. Parliament has reduced its electricity consumption by 16.8% and gas consumption by 25.3% since 2008/09.</p><p>The Building Management System has been upgraded recently to enable better control of the building services, such as resetting manual temperature changes every night to a CIBSE recommended setpoint.</p><p>The Environmental Sustainability Team monitor and report performance energy and water use monthly, and report annually in the sustainability section of the Commission Annual Report.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 20/09/2022 11:31:04 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1275349

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2021
	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: Procurement
	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, for what reason the Commons authorities are buying German rather than British wash basin taps.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	135802
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2021 answer text <p>The Public Contract Regulations 2015 are UK law and in general they prohibit contracting authorities from specifying the country of manufacture or origin when purchasing goods. This has not changed now that the Brexit transition period has ended.</p><p><br>The wash basin taps in question were supplied through British companies including Dart Valley Systems. This particular supplier has a Swiss parent company (Franke) which operates globally.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 14/01/2021 19:23:04 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar