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1733630

registered interest
date	11/10/2024
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	Early Day Motions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the average cost was to the public purse of administering an Early Day Motion in the latest 12 months for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham Northfield
tabling member printed	Laurence Turner
uin	8730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>It is difficult to provide an accurate figure for the cost of administering an Early Day Motion as staff in the Table Office and the Procedural Publishing Unit who process EDMs have a wide range of other responsibilities and time spent exclusively on EDMs is not recorded.</p><p>We are able to provide a broad estimate based on staff time alone, but it should be noted that this takes no account of other fixed costs such as office accommodation and, notably, the cost of developing and maintaining the digital systems used to process EDMs.</p><p>The Table Office estimates that processing an EDM takes about five minutes of staff time if it is submitted electronically, 10 minutes if submitted by email and 15 minutes if submitted in hard copy.</p><p>The approximate staff costs (based on 2023 payscales) for processing EDMs by the Table Office are:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Submission method</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Table Office staff cost</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Electronically (via MemberHub)</p></td><td><p>£2.70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>By email</p></td><td><p>£4.10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hard copy</p></td><td><p>£5.50</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Although the Table Office does not record how many signatures it adds to EDMs through hard copy signatures and by email each day, we estimate that it takes approximately one minute to add each signature (at a staff cost of approximately £0.27). In 2023, there was an average of 11 signatures for each EDM.</p><p>After EDMs have been processed by the Table Office, they are published by the Procedural Publishing Unit. This involves downloading script, moving the information into a template, checking the content and publishing to the website. The process costs approximately £6.90 in staff time. The additional time for publishing each EDM is low – i.e. the cost is likely to be very similar whenever more than one EDM is published in a day. In 2023, on average eight EDMs were published on every sitting day. The average cost for publishing each EDM to the website was therefore £0.86.</p><p>In 2023, the average daily cost for printing paper copies of all EDMs tabled on each sitting day was £43.</p><p>Therefore, the average cost of administering an EDM submitted electronically in 2023 is estimated to be £11.90, which as noted above does not include certain fixed costs or expenditure on digital systems.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 16:09:15 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	5234

1733289

registered interest
date	10/10/2024
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: ICT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress the Commission has made on enabling (a) generative AI and (b) other new technologies to support members.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	8444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The House Authorities, in conjunction with the House of Lords administration and Parliamentary Digital Service, have been actively exploring the potential for AI, and other new technologies, to support the work of Members. A recent example includes the creation of the online portal for the registration of MPs’ financial interests released in spring 2024.</p><p>PDS is undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of Microsoft’s Co-Pilot AI tool, which includes AI for mailboxes. This could aid Members and staff in their management of day-to-day administrative activities and involves learning from Government departments which are testing its use. Before a pilot of Co-Pilot could happen within Parliament, there are important information rights protections to put in place to make sure that sensitive information is handled appropriately. Steps to put those protections in place are taking place in coming months.</p><p>Parliament’s Information and Digital Strategy sets out both an ambition to ensure that the Houses are exploring the opportunities and risks of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and to be more focused on meeting the needs of Members in the delivery of digital services.</p><p>To support these ambitions, an AI Working Group has been convened with representatives of departments across both Houses coordinating and considering how best to enable the use of generative AI. A Digital Innovation Lab has been established to provide a safe testing ground for the use of AI and other emerging technologies, and initial proofs of concepts are being developed for the use of AI to support the work of Hansard and the Table Office. House staff and PDS are working closely with Government departments to understand their use of AI (in particular the development of the Redbox tool which can summarise documents and briefings, and whether there is potential application in Parliament).</p><p>To support Members specifically, guidance is being prepared on the safe use of AI in relation to Parliamentary duties. AI learning materials are also being curated, as well as opportunities to learn more through seminar-style events. Both the guidance and learning should become available over the autumn.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:59:21 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1732832

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
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: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many holders of each pass type have access to the parliamentary estate.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8180
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The number of passes on issue changes constantly, so the following represents a snapshot of data recorded on 10 October 2024:</p><ul><li>MPs: 648</li><li>Peers: 832</li><li>MPs’ staff: 1,589</li><li>Peers’ staff: 333</li><li>Staff of the Administrations - House of Commons, House of Lords, and Parliamentary Digital Service: 4,242</li><li>Metropolitan Police staff including police officers: 565</li><li>Contractors: 3,028 (blue) + 1,170 (yellow) = 4,198</li><li>Former MPs: 419</li><li>Retired Peers: 55</li><li>Political parties and whips: 181</li><li>Partners of MPs/Peers and residents: 680</li><li>Civil servants: 1,515</li><li>Media: 472</li><li>Restoration &amp; Renewal Management: 189</li></ul> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:42:27 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1732834

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
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: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many parliamentary passes were not returned following the conclusion of the holder's employment in each of the last five financial years.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8181
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The database is a live pass issuing system and does not retain full historical information as data is only retained for three years or less depending on the pass category, so is continually being deleted in line with our records retention policy.</p><p>The vast majority of passes are returned promptly after they expire or are invalidated. The following figures show the number of expired passes not returned by financial year; however please note all these passes were deactivated and would not allow access to the Parliamentary estate.</p><p>Financial year 2021–2022: 513</p><p>Financial year 2022–2023: 432</p><p>Financial year 2023–2024: 392</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:46:36 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1732835

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
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: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many parliamentary passes were (a) lost and (b) stolen in each of the last five financial years.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The database is a live pass issuing system and does not retain full historical information as data is only retained for three years or less depending on the pass category, so is continually being deleted in line with our records retention policy. The following figures show the number of passes reported as lost or stolen by financial year; however please note all these passes were promptly deactivated and would not allow access to the Parliamentary estate.</p><p>Financial year 2021–2022: 43</p><p>Financial year 2022–2023: 76</p><p>Financial year 2023–2024: 62</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:51:44 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1732836

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
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: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will publish a list of special advisers who have had a parliamentary pass in each of the last five financial years.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>We are unable to provide this information, as the pass issuing system does not categorise passholders in this way. Special advisers are not a specific category of passholder, and therefore this information could not easily be obtained from the pass data system. In any event, it would be inconsistent with data protection principles to publish such a list.</p><p>It would not be appropriate to publish the personal data collected for the purposes of security pass allocation as this would not be consistent with data protection principles, therefore we are unable to provide a list of civil servants holding passes. As noted above, it would be inconsistent with data protection principles to publish personal data collected for security purposes in this way, and therefore the Commission is unable to provide such a list.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith grouped question UIN 8184 question first answered 17/10/2024 15:54:57 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1732837

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
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: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will publish a list of (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers who have a parliamentary pass.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	8184
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>We are unable to provide this information, as the pass issuing system does not categorise passholders in this way. Special advisers are not a specific category of passholder, and therefore this information could not easily be obtained from the pass data system. In any event, it would be inconsistent with data protection principles to publish such a list.</p><p>It would not be appropriate to publish the personal data collected for the purposes of security pass allocation as this would not be consistent with data protection principles, therefore we are unable to provide a list of civil servants holding passes. As noted above, it would be inconsistent with data protection principles to publish personal data collected for security purposes in this way, and therefore the Commission is unable to provide such a list.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith grouped question UIN 8183 question first answered 17/10/2024 15:54:57 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1719853

registered interest
date	21/05/2024
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	Members: Security
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 ensure that security personnel employed at constituency surgeries by agencies contracted by parliamentary security are paid (a) at least the minimum wage and (b) travel expenses.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	27535
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2024 answer text <p>All security personnel working at constituency surgeries by agencies contracted by the Parliamentary Security Department are paid above the Real Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage. These personnel work within their local area and are therefore not required to travel as part of their role beyond an ordinary commute. If travel expenses are required, these are fully paid by the security provider.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 24/05/2024 11:12:00 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1719854

registered interest
date	21/05/2024
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	Members: Security
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 an assessment of the adequacy of the terms and conditions of employment relating to (a) travel expenses and (b) other matters for security guards employed for hon. Members' constituency surgeries.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	27536
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2024 answer text <p>The Parliamentary Security Department manages the contract for provision of security personnel at constituency surgeries. Assurance on satisfactory terms and conditions has been provided through the procurement process and ongoing regular contract meetings.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 24/05/2024 11:14:02 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1719855

registered interest
date	21/05/2024
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	Members: Security
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 contracted security personnel employed for constituency offices are paid below the minimum wage when travel time is included.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	27537
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2024 answer text <p>All security personnel working at constituency surgeries by agencies contracted by the Parliamentary Security Department are paid above the Real Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage. These employees work within the local area and are therefore not required to travel as part of their role beyond an ordinary commute.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 24/05/2024 11:17:16 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi