APPENDIX 5
Letter from the Chairman of the Administration
Committee to the then Chairman
of the Committee
Thank you for your letter of 8 July, seeking the
Administration Committee's views on the Government's proposals
for reforming the Parliamentary calendar. On behalf of the Committee,
I would make the following comments concerning those matters within
our responsibility.
With reference to the Line of Route, as you will
know, the Chamber has to be closed for searching no later than
one hour before the House sits, and Thursday morning sittings
will, therefore, mean no visitors will be able to see the Chamber,
Division Lobbies and Members' Lobby except on Monday and Tuesday
mornings. If the proposed Thursday morning sittings were introduced,
we would have to close the Chamber by 10.30 am. I understand that
very few visitors arrive sharp on 9.30 am and, therefore, they
would not reach the Commons end of the Palace before it was necessary
to close it off; the Committee considers that this would be particularly
harsh on the constituents of those colleagues who represent seats
outside London, who might have to leave home at a very early hour,
or even stay the preceding night in London, to ensure that they
arrive at the House in time to take part in the tour. I understand
also that the implementation of the Jopling proposals reduced
the opportunities for the public to visit the House by 25%, and
that Thursday morning sittings would further reduce such opportunities
by a similar figure.
The introduction of a non-sitting constituency week
during school half-term would not, I believe, necessarily have
an adverse effect on school parties visiting the Palace, as I
understand that most schools tend to visit during term time. However,
for those parties which do visit during half-term, there presumably
will be less opportunity for them to meet "their" MP,
which could be disappointing for those children who had hoped
to see him or her.
Finally, Standing Committees sitting during weeks
when the Chamber is not, could have severe implications for the
Parliamentary Works Programme. Although the Accommodation and
Works and the Catering Committees will be better placed to express
a fuller view on this, there are certain ramifications for this
Committee. For example, Select Committee Rooms have to be used
to decant Members and staff whilst their offices are refurbished
- this summer seven such rooms will be needed. If more Select
Committees wished to meet than there are Select Committee Rooms
to accommodate them, currently they are able to use a Standing
Committee Room - however, if Standing Committees were meeting
also, there could be considerable pressure on the Rooms not used
for decanting purposes.
I hope that these brief comments are helpful.
22 July 1998
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