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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

1254380

registered interest
date	23/11/2020
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	Independent Expert Panel for the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme: Pay
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 the salary will be for members of the Independent Experts Panel.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	119164
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2020 answer text <p>Members of the Independent Expert Panel will be paid, monthly in arrears, a fee of £350 (excluding VAT) for each half-day spent by the Panel member in the provision of their services.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 26/11/2020 13:04:08 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1235998

registered interest
date	22/09/2020
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: Shops
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, when is it proposed to reintroduce cash payment at outlets in the House of Commons.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	92625
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The reintroduction of cash payments in catering outlets will be reviewed by the Catering Service Management team in accordance with any changes to industry guidance provided by the Government. The current guidance encourages contactless payments, where possible, which the House is adopting as part of its measures to manage the risk of COVID transmission on the Parliamentary Estate.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 24/09/2020 17:19:17 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1201468

registered interest
date	08/06/2020
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: Equipment
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 House procured mouse mats made in Italy for distribution to Members; and whether UK manufacturers were invited to tender for that contract.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	55857
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Digital Service requested the procurement of 2000 cyber-security mouse mats in late February/early March. These were posted to Members along with an information booklet on working safely from home. Efforts have been made to make the procurement of such merchandise more sustainable and ‘locally’ produced wherever possible. Over the course of the cyber security campaigns, the majority of our budget has gone towards UK-based procurement.</p><p>The cyber-security mouse mats were procured under Lot 2 Promotional category of the Print Framework FWK1120. A mini tender took place within the Promotional category for this job and was awarded to the supplier which best met the customer’s requirements. All our awarded promotional suppliers under this Lot are UK based but they can subcontract under the terms and conditions using verified and trusted sub-contractors. Their subcontractors are not limited to being just UK based and the materials and items can be imported substrates or manufactured abroad at its entirety. Our Promotional suppliers use and have a mix of both UK and overseas subcontractors. Under the terms of the UK Procurement Regulations 2015, it is of course unlawful to discriminate positively in favour of UK suppliers.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 16/06/2020 13:26:07 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1193634

registered interest
date	06/05/2020
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	Electronic Voting: House of Commons
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, when the contract for running the Commons Remote Voting system was awarded to Civica Election Services; and whether the contract was subject to open competition.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	43832
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>The Commons Remote Voting system is being developed and implemented entirely by existing Parliamentary Digital Service resource. No contract has been awarded for this work. A contract was awarded on 22 April to Civica Election Services to run an online ballot for the Chairs of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and the Committee on Standards. An open competition was not required as the expected final value is below the £10,000 threshold at which the Parliamentary Procurement Rules require multiple quotes to be sought.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 12/05/2020 12:50:49 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1019379

registered interest
date	03/12/2018
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: Food
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, pursuant to his oral contribution answer of 29 November 2018, Official Report, column 403, what practical problems prevent the implementation of a buy British policy.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	198174
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>We acknowledge that there may be an expectation that the House of Commons should be buying British wherever possible, but as a contracting authority as specified in the European Parliament and Council Directive, we are subject to EU Public Sector Procurement directives. It is therefore impossible for us to demand that we wish to buy only British products simply on the merits of origin and must instead ensure that our specifications at tender stage, and ultimately our decision to award a contract, does not discriminate against products or supplies from other EU member states.</p><p>The vast majority of fresh products purchased by Catering are in fact British – meat, poultry, dairy, eggs and most fruit and vegetables (when in season) are sourced from within the UK. We demand that UK or equivalent standards of welfare and/or production must be met as this is a consideration of quality rather than origin. UK standards on the whole are easy to follow, robust, commonly accepted and enforced across each sector.</p> answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake question first answered 13/12/2018 12:12:12 answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake previous answer version 90662 answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar