House of Commons Administration Committee Formal Minutes Session 2010–12 Administration Committee The Administration Committee is appointed to consider the services provided for and by the House of Commons. This includes services provided to the public by Parliament, including visitor facilities, the Parliament website and education services. Current membership: Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP (Conservative, Saffron Walden) (Chair) Rosie Cooper MP (Labour, West Lancashire) Thomas Docherty MP (Labour, Dunfermline and West Fife) Graham Evans MP (Conservative, Weaver Vale) Rt Hon. Mr Mark Francois MP (Conservative, Rayleigh and Wickford) Mark Hunter MP (Liberal Democrat, Cheadle) Mr Kevan Jones MP (Labour, North Durham) Simon Kirby MP (Conservative, Brighton Kemptown) Dr Phillip Lee MP (Conservative, Bracknell) Nigel Mills MP (Conservative, Amber Valley) Tessa Munt MP (Liberal Democrat, Wells) Sarah Newton MP (Conservative, Truro and Falmouth) Rt Hon. Mr John Spellar MP (Labour, Warley) Mark Tami MP (Labour, Alyn and Deeside) Mr Dave Watts MP (Labour, St Helens North) Mike Weatherley MP (Conservative, Hove) Other Members The following were members of the Committee during this Session: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP (Conservative, The Cotswolds); Rt Hon. Frank Dobson (Labour, Holborn and St Pancras); Gemma Doyle (Labour Co-operative, West Dunbartonshire); Mr Tom Harris (Labour, Glasgow South); Mrs Siân C. James (Labour, Swansea East); Bob Russell MP (Liberal Democrat, Colchester); Mr Shailesh Vara MP (Conservative, North West Cambridgeshire); and Angela Smith MP (Labour, Penistone and Stocksbridge). Powers The powers of the Committee are set out in House of Commons SO No 139. Standing Orders are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee are on the Internet at: http://www.parliament.uk/ac Committee staff The staff of the Committee during 2010-12 were David Weir (Clerk), Keith Neary (Second Clerk) and Dawn Brown (Committee Assistant). Contacts All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Administration Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 4151; the Committee’s email address is [email protected] Formal Minutes Tuesday 27 July 2010 Members present: Frank Dobson Dr Phillip Lee Thomas Docherty Nigel Mills Gemma Doyle Sarah Newton Mr Mark Francois Mr Shailesh Vara Sir Alan Haselhurst Mr Dave Watts 1. Declaration of interests Several Members declared their interests in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992 (see appendix). 2. Chair of the Committee Sir Alan Haselhurst was called to the Chair. 3. Course of proceeding Resolved, That, at its discretion, the Committee take evidence in public. Resolved, That the Committee publish notes of its discussions. Resolved, That, at the discretion of the Chair and the Committee, the Committee publish the papers it considers. 4. Work programme Resolved, That the Committee seek a memorandum from the Director General, Facilities and the Director of the Catering and Retail Service on refreshment facilities within the parliamentary estate. 5. Appointments Ordered, That Dr Phillip Lee be appointed to the board of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). Ordered, That Thomas Docherty be appointed to chair the Travel Office Consumers’ Panel. Ordered, That Nigel Mills be appointed to the IT Users Forum. Ordered, That Sir Alan Haselhurst be appointed to the Facilities Customer Focus Group. 6. Television Documentary Resolved, That the Committee meet privately with representatives of Atlantic Productions and BBC Factual, Bristol, on the matter of making a television documentary about the Houses of Parliament. 7. Access to the House of Commons Resolved, That the Chair advise the Speaker that the Committee agrees with its predecessor that MEPs should not be granted passes allowing access to the House of Commons. 8. Electrical systems This matter was discussed. [Adjourned till Monday 6 September at 5 pm Monday 6 September 2010 Members present: Sir Alan Haselhurst, in the Chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Dr Phillip Lee Rosie Cooper Nigel Mills Frank Dobson Tessa Munt Thomas Docherty Sarah Newton Gemma Doyle Mr Shailesh Vara Mr Mark Francois Mr Dave Watts Mrs Siân C. James Mike Weatherley 1. Declaration of interests Several Members declared their interests in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992 (see appendix). 2. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Ordered, That Sarah Newton be appointed to the board of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). 3. Survey of Services Ordered, That Geoffrey Clifton-Brown represent the Committee on the project board for the survey of House of Commons services. 4. Catering and retail services John Borley, Director General, Facilities, and Mrs Sue Harrison, Director of Catering and Retail Services, House of Commons, gave oral evidence, in private. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into catering and retail services in the House of Commons. [Adjourned till Monday 11 October at 5 pm Monday 11 October 2010 Members present: Sir Alan Haselhurst, in the Chair Rosie Cooper Tessa Munt Thomas Docherty Sarah Newton Mr Mark Francois Mr Shailesh Vara Dr Phillip Lee Mr Dave Watts Nigel Mills Mike Weatherley 1. Exhibitions in Portcullis House This matter was discussed. 2. School transport subsidy scheme This matter was discussed. 3. Parliamentary broadcasting This matter was discussed. 4. Newspapers This matter was discussed. 5. Television documentary The Committee met privately with Mr Ben Gale, Head of Factual, Mr Julian Mercer, Executive Producer, and Ms Kate Beetham, Head of Development, BBC Factual, Bristol. [Adjourned till Monday 18 October at 5 pm Monday 18 October 2010 Members present: Sir Alan Haselhurst, in the Chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Nigel Mills Thomas Docherty Tessa Munt Gemma Doyle Sarah Newton Mr Mark Francois Mr Shailesh Vara Mrs Siân C. James Mr Dave Watts Dr Phillip Lee Mike Weatherley 1. Derogations Ordered, That derogations from the ballots for the Attlee Suite on 25 to 27 July 2011 and Jubilee Room on 21 to 28 July 2011 be granted to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for the purpose of its annual conference. Resolved, That Mr Speaker be advised that the Committee approves a proposal to permit the Hague Dutch Boys Choir to perform at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 20 October in the atrium of Portcullis House. 2. Television documentary The Committee met privately with Mr Anthony Geffen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer, Mr Michael Cockerell, Presenter, and Mr James Taylor, Head of Content Distribution, Atlantic Productions. [Adjourned till Monday 25 October at 5 pm Monday 25 October 2010 Members present: Sir Alan Haselhurst, in the Chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Tessa Munt Thomas Docherty Sarah Newton Mr Mark Francois Bob Russell Dr Phillip Lee Mr Shailesh Vara Nigel Mills Mike Weatherley 1. Declaration of interests Bob Russell declared his interests in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992 (See appendix). 2. Derogations Ordered, That a derogation from the ballot for the Attlee Suite on Tuesday 8 February 2011 be granted to the Head of Parliamentary Outreach for the purpose of a seminar to celebrate inclusion through sport. 3. Black Rod’s Garden Entrance Resolved, That the Chair draw the attention of the Black Rod’s Entrance project board to the potential offered by the project for changes in arrangements for the Line of Route. 4. Westminster Gym This matter was discussed. 5. Catering and retail services Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from the Members and Peers Staff Association, Trade Unions representing users of the catering service and those who work within it, the Parliamentary Press Gallery and Lobby, the Serjeant at Arms, external organisations, and the Director General, Facilities, and Director of Catering and Retail Services. Resolved, That the Committee visit catering facilities on the House of Commons estate. Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to catering and retail services in the House of Commons be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Linda Rostron Emma Laity David Davies MP Department of Health NI Assembly Department for Culture, Media and Sport Scottish Parliament HM Treasury Laurence Robertson MP Department for Education Department for Transport National Assembly of Wales General and Municipal Boilermakers Union (GMB) Ministry of Justice Frances Allingham Unite First Division Association Tom Jones Brian H. Donohoe MP Jim Sheridan MP Ministry of Defence Public and Commercial Services Union Scotland Office Therese Coffey MP Fiona Mactaggart MP Caroline Lucas MP House of Commons Trade Union Side Teresa Pearce MP Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Stephen Williams MP Kerry McCarthy MP Members and Peers Staff Association Andrew Robathan MP Selina Short Madeleine Moon MP 6. Television documentary Resolved, That the Chair advise Mr Speaker and the Commission that the Committee does not believe access should be granted to a television company for a full-scale documentary of the sort proposed by BBC Factual, Bristol, and Atlantic Productions. [Adjourned till Monday 1 November at 4.30 pm Monday 1 November 2010 Members present: Sir Alan Haselhurst, in the Chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Bob Russell Thomas Docherty Mr Shailesh Vara Mr Mark Francois Mr Dave Watts Nigel Mills Mike Weatherley Sarah Newton 1. Derogations Ordered, That a derogation from the ballot for the Attlee Suite on Tuesday 29 March 2011 be granted to the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. Ordered, That a derogation from the ballot for the Attlee Suite on Tuesday 14 June 2011 be granted to the Industry and Parliament Trust for the purpose of its annual general meeting. 2. Broadcasting This matter was discussed. 3. Department of Facilities This matter was discussed. 4. World Aids Day Resolved, That the Chair advise Mr Speaker of the Committee’s view on use of the Clock Tower to publicise events. 5. Civil ceremonies This matter was discussed.