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1020302

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Staff
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by the Chairman of Committees on 25 February 2009 (HL Deb, col 89W), how many staff of the House of Lords are employed exclusively or primarily on press and public relations; and whether he has made an assessment of how this figure now compares with the number of staff employed for the same purpose by (1) the House of Commons, and (2) the Scottish Parliament.
	tabling member printed	Lord Norton of Louth
	uin	HL12086
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>Both Houses and the Scottish Parliament organise their communications/press and public relations functions in different ways which makes it hard to compare figures directly. Consequently, the figures below simply compare the number of FTEs employed predominantly on dealing with press/media.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>House of Lords</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>House of Commons</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Scottish Parliament</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>FTEs employed on press/media</strong></p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br> <br>These figures do not include staff employed by either House or the Scottish Parliament on marketing, digital communications, public information, visitor services, education and engagement all of which contribute to their work on public relations. We do not hold these figures in respect of the House of Commons and Scottish Parliament.</p><p><br>No assessment has been made of how these figures compare with each other.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 20/12/2018 16:00:19 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	3187 label Biography information for Lord Norton of Louth

1028340

	registered interest
	date	18/12/2018
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	Abingdon Green
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the House Authorities were consulted on the decision to close College Green to the public; and whether broadcasters using the Green pay the House.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL12414
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/01/2019 answer text <p>Yes, Black Rod was consulted on the closure of College Green. The Green is owned by the House of Commons but day to day access is delegated by the Clerk of the House to Black Rod. Current policy is to allow public access to the Green to enable the public to pass through on the paths or to use it as a recreational space. It is also longstanding policy also to allow the media to use the Green for the contemporaneous news reporting of events within Parliament. Broadcasters are not charged to use the Green as is it considered to be in Parliament’s and the national interest that they should be facilitated to report on Parliament. As the Green is owned by the House of Commons, the question of charging would be a matter for them, not the House of Lords.</p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 03/01/2019 14:05:35 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1028351

	registered interest
	date	18/12/2018
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	Big Ben
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment he has made of the progress of works being carried out on Elizabeth Tower, including Big Ben; and when he expects those works to be completed.
	tabling member printed	Lord Trefgarne
	uin	HL12425
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>The Elizabeth Tower refurbishment project, with a budget of £61 million jointly funded by the two Houses, is intended to conserve and prevent further deterioration of the Elizabeth Tower, including the Great Clock; ensure its fire safety compliance; improve the health and safety of the Elizabeth Tower for Members, staff and the public; improve the security and the efficiency of emergency evacuations; and improve the efficiency of the tours in the Elizabeth Tower. No works are required to be undertaken on the Great Bell (“Big Ben”) itself. The project is due for completion in 2021.</p><p><br>Work on the project is progressing well. For instance, all elements of the Great Clock, and all cast iron roof components, have been removed from the Tower for conservation work and glazing, gilding and paint stripping work are continuing. Work on restoring the original colour scheme for the clock dials is well advanced. Arrangements have been made to ensure the Great Bell is sounded to mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, and to ring in the New Year on New Year’s Eve. <br> <br>The Finance Committee receives regular updates on the progress of the project.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 07/01/2019 13:17:32 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	1813 label Biography information for Lord Trefgarne

1038921

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2019
	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: Correspondence
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how many items of correspondence were received in the Palace of Westminster in 2018; and of those, how many were received in the House of Lords.
	tabling member printed	Lord Norton of Louth
	uin	HL12758
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. In total, 1,519,939 items of mail were received on the Parliamentary Estate in 2018. The destination of mail is not recorded but it is estimated that approximately 30 per cent of these items were destined for the House of Lords. These figures do not include parcels, courier items or internal mail.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 21/01/2019 16:45:34 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
	tabling member	3187 label Biography information for Lord Norton of Louth

1041194

	registered interest
	date	14/01/2019
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	Millbank House: Lighting
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how long the lights in Millbank House will be permanently switched on without any means to switch them off.
	tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
	uin	HL12776
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. Problems have been experienced with the lighting system installed in 1 Millbank. It appears that the controlling software has been corrupted, resulting in some users being unable to turn on or turn off particular lighting units. A solution is being urgently sought.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 21/01/2019 16:44:43 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
	tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1047823

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2019
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	Hereditary Peers: By-elections
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what was the percentage turnout of voters in each of the whole House hereditary peer by-elections.
	tabling member printed	Lord Grocott
	uin	HL13101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>Since the system of hereditary peer by-elections began there have been eight such by-elections where all members of the House have been eligible to vote. The percentage turnout of voters in each by-election was as follows:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Date of election </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Departed Peer </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Elected Peer </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Percentage of electorate who voted</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>27-Mar-03</p></td><td><p>Oxfuird, V.</p></td><td><p>Ullswater, V.</p></td><td><p>63.99%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>23-Mar-05</p></td><td><p>Aberdare, L.</p></td><td><p>Eccles, V.</p></td><td><p>50.65%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>23-Mar-11</p></td><td><p>Strabolgi, L.</p></td><td><p>Hanworth, V.</p></td><td><p>53.83%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>20-Jul-11</p></td><td><p>Ampthill, L.</p></td><td><p>Colville of Culross, V.</p></td><td><p>40.70%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>17-Jul-13</p></td><td><p>Reay, L.</p></td><td><p>Borwick, L.</p></td><td><p>44.35%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>22-Oct-14</p></td><td><p>Methuen, L.</p></td><td><p>Oxford and Asquith, E.</p></td><td><p>36.46%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>27-Mar-17</p></td><td><p>Lyell, L.</p></td><td><p>Colgrain, L.</p></td><td><p>43.08%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>23-Jan-19</p></td><td><p>Skelmersdale, L.</p></td><td><p>Reay, L.</p></td><td><p>32.99%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 29/01/2019 12:10:35 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	276 label Biography information for Lord Grocott

1050824

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2019
	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: Demonstrations
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what are the average daily costs to Parliament of any additional Parliamentary security personnel who have been required to deal with the demonstrators near to the Palace of Westminster since 23 June 2016.
	tabling member printed	Lord Palmer
	uin	HL13245
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2019 answer text <p>There have been no additional costs to Parliament. The additional security staff fall into two categories, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and private security provision for the broadcasters. The resources for the police officers who are part of the wider MPS response to Brexit do not fall within the contractual arrangement between MPS and Parliament, therefore Parliament is not paying any extra for policing these protests. Private security provision for the broadcasters is contracted by various broadcasters on Abingdon Green, which Parliament does not pay for.</p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 06/02/2019 12:34:00 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	3192 label Biography information for Lord Palmer

1051989

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2019
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	Parliamentary Estate: Proof of Identity
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration has been given to requiring all visitors to the Parliamentary estate to present photo identification before entry.
	tabling member printed	Viscount Waverley
	uin	HL13316
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2019 answer text <p>There are over one million visitors to Parliament each year. Visitors access the estate for many reasons. These include: to meet with a Member or a member of staff; to attend a Member-sponsored meeting or meetings at official level; to give evidence to a Committee; to lobby; to attend debates in both Houses (in the Chambers and Committees); to attend functions and banqueting events; to take a tour (both paid-for and democratic free tours); or as part of an Education Service visit. Many visits do not need to be pre-booked. In order to promote open access to Parliament controls are kept proportionate to the security risk. Photo identification by visitors is not currently deemed proportionate and if introduced would need to be verified, significantly delaying the admission of visitors to Parliament and resulting in lengthy queues at peak times.</p><p>All non-passholders are subject to search and screening measures before entering the estate. The Parliamentary Security Department do not comment publicly on the details of security measures.</p><p>The Director of Security for Parliament is content to meet with any members who wish to discuss specific concerns.</p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 07/02/2019 12:41:04 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	1744 label Biography information for Viscount Waverley

1054378

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2019
	answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
	answering dept id	204
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
	hansard heading	Palace of Westminster: Paintings
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker when the restoration works on the two large Maclise paintings in the Royal Gallery will be completed.
	tabling member printed	Lord Trefgarne
	uin	HL13426
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. The conservation of the wall paintings ‘Trafalgar’ and ‘Waterloo’ will be completed this year. Phase 3 of the programme is currently underway (4-22 Feb inclusive), and subject to permissions, Phase 4 (final phase) will be booked for October 2019 and will complete the conservation treatment. Discussions are ongoing regarding possible future work on adjustments to the lighting of the wall paintings to further improve their presentation.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 11/02/2019 16:51:45 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
	tabling member	1813 label Biography information for Lord Trefgarne

1059235

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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: Disability
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether he is satisfied that the present arrangements in the Chamber and Committee Rooms meet the needs of those with hearing or visual impairments.
	tabling member printed	Lord Trefgarne
	uin	HL13620
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2019 answer text <p>The House of Lords provides support for Members, staff and visitors to Parliament affected by hearing loss through the use of audio loop and infrared systems that help to amplify sound for hearing aid users. Loop systems are installed in the Chamber and all Committee rooms, with infrared systems additionally available within Committee rooms 1 to 4, 2A, 3A and the Moses Room. Handheld radio transmitters are also available to hearing-aid users when in the Chamber, to reduce interference from electrical equipment and improve the quality of sound provided by the audio loop.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently exploring options to provide an audio description service for Chamber and Committee proceedings. This will provide blind and partially sighted members, committee witnesses and members of the public with a voiced description of which member or witness is currently speaking, transmitted directly via an audio service. A feasibility study was commissioned in January 2019 and will report back later this year.</p><p> </p><p>Further microphones are due to be added to the Chamber this year, which will improve the quality of service provided to hearing aid users. A greater number of microphones situated closer to the people speaking minimises background noise and gives a cleaner sound on the audio which is sent directly to hearing aids via the loop system. The large number of microphones used in Committee meetings, whether automated or operated by an engineer, help to keep the sound clear and maximise the quality of sound experienced by hearing aid users.</p><p> </p><p>For those with hearing impairments which do not require the use of a hearing aid, overall audibility in Committee Rooms 2A, 3A and 4A is generally good. In Committee rooms 1 to 4, however, factors such as high ceilings and furniture arrangements mean that the current acoustic set-up is sub-optimal. A facilities upgrade is currently being trialled in House of Commons Committee Room 6 and, subject to approval, House of Lords Committee rooms will also benefit from these improvements in due course. There are also plans to replace the speakers embedded in the benches within the Chamber next year, which should deliver improvements to general levels of audibility.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The business of the House is of course dependent upon Members, staff and visitors such as committee witnesses being able to hear and be heard, although the capacity to deliver improvements can sometimes be limited by the nature of operations in a building with heritage restrictions. Equality Impact Assessments will be carried out as part of the Restoration and Renewal process, during which extensive works are likely to offer the potential for further improvements to facilities. In the interim, the Director of Facilities would be happy to speak to any member with specific suggestions for improvement.</p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 25/02/2019 17:21:43 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
	tabling member	1813 label Biography information for Lord Trefgarne