HC Deb 13 July 1966 vol 731 cc1453-4
36. Mr. Higgins

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will estimate the cost of providing a service to collect from, copy and return to hon. Members documents which they duplicate on the copying machines in the Palace of Westminster.

Mr. Bowden

It is difficult to make an assessment before the details of the service have been worked out but the cost is unlikely to be less than £5,000 or £6,000 a year.

Mr. Higgins

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the cost of employing staff to do this—their salaries and wages— would be less than that of Members' secretaries?

Mr. Bowden

The real problem is that although the number of staff—probably four or five—is not great, they would spend a great deal of time chasing round the building looking for Members and delivering material after it had been copied. It would be much better to provide additional copying machines which the Members themselves could use.

37. Mr. Higgins

asked the Lord President of the Council if, following the recent sample survey, he will estimate the total time taken by hon. Members and by hon. Members' secretaries, respectively, using the copying machines in the Palace of Westminster on an average day; and if he will estimate what this represents as a proportion of a Member's salary and a secretary's time, respectively.

Mr. Bowden

The recent sample survey only related to the number of Members and their secretaries who used the copying machines on one day and did not purport to give the total time taken in their use. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

Mr. Higgins

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the total amount of time is none the less quite sufficient to encourage at least the initiation of a pilot scheme? Even though, as the right hon. Gentleman has suggested, it may take some time to find Members, surely the saving in cost would be considerable?

Mr. Bowden

I do not think that we would be serving Members better by having an additional four or five officials chasing around the House. I think that we would be serving them better by providing additional machines.

Mr. Lubbock

Is not the right hon Gentleman aware that many of us find it quite infuriating that these copying machines are not available for our use during Recesses and at other times when the House is not sitting? Will he alter the regulations in this respect, or refer the matter to the appropriate Committee?

Mr. Bowden

Yes, I am prepared to see that the House of Commons (Services) Committee should look at the latter point.