HC Deb 27 November 1967 vol 755 cc29-30
40. Mr. van Straubenzee

asked the Lord President of the Council how many cancellations there have been to date of dinners sponsored by hon. Members in Private Dining Rooms of the House, and in the Members' Dining Room and the Harcourt Room at weekends, since the prices were increased in July.

Mr. Maxwell

I have been asked to reply.

Up to 17th November there have been 21 cancellations, representing 4½ per cent. of the total bookings. I regret these cancelled bookings and the Catering Sub-Committee will look into the prices again.

Mr. van Straubenzee

I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman. However, what is his policy in relation to booking charges? Does he feel it equitable that the booking charge for a dinner which I cancelled, for example, and which was to have been held next May on behalf of a very impecunious body, should be retained by the Catering Department although it was cancelled in September? Does he feel that that kind of dealing is appropriate for the House?

Mr. Maxwell

In the past the onus of cancellation fell on the Department which has been having great difficulty in meeting its costs and the answer is, therefore, yes. I feel that a booking fee is necessary in order to prevent the Catering Department from suffering these losses and, in particular, in order to prevent hon. Members who want to book rooms from being unable to do so. However, as the Leader of the House has intimated, the Report which the Catering Sub-Committee expects to put to the House will indicate that we are "out of the red" and this is, therefore, one of the things which hon Members will undoubtedly to able to review again.

Mr. Ronald Bell

When the new charges are being considered, will the Catering Sub-Committee bear in mind that the sort of effect which the new charges will have will be to cut out what one might call political entertaining, for which the rooms really exist, and to concentrate on the bookings of industrial and commercial firms who do not care about price?

Mr. Maxwell

The Catering Sub-Committee has this very much in mind. We think that the House of Commons is here to serve hon. Members and their guests in the first instance and of course political functions have as much priority as any business functions, and we shall certainly bear this in mind when fixing prices.

Mr. Paget

Why does my hon. Friend regret that there are some cancellations? As we are booked up for nearly a year ahead, is not that something greatly to be welcomed, as it gives someone else a chance to get in?

Mr. Maxwell

I regret these cancellations if they are made on grounds of cost to hon. Members and their constituents and if they create inconvenience, and the Sub-Committee would like to avoid that if it is at all possible.