§ 32. Mr. Wardasked the Lord President of the Council what action has been taken to implement the recommendations of the report of the committee of inquiry into the House of Commons Refreshment Department, bearing in mind the comment of the committee on the non-implementation of four previous reports.
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Michael Foot)As I have already informed my hon. Friend on 5th July, I consider that the first priority should be to introduce a system of budgetary control in the Refreshment Department as recommended by the committee of inquiry. When this has been established, we can consider the other aspects of the report.
§ Mr. WardDoes my right hon. Friend feel that, in order to deal with what was described in the report as the mournful catalogue of ills, it is necessary to elevate the status of catering in the House to have a Department accountable to Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. FootI certainly agree that that has to be done. We hope in the next Session that the new House of Commons Commission, recommended by the Bottomley Commission, can be proceeded with and that this matter can then be dealt with.
§ Mr. Greviile JannerDuring the interim period, what steps does my right hon. Friend popose to take to improve the lot of the extremely hard-working and often greatly over-worked but much appreciated members of the refreshment staff?
§ Mr. FootIf representations are made to those responsible, we shall do our very best to deal with any aspect that is raised on that matter. I think that it is right to have a discussion in the House on proposals for changing the services to hon. Members before we proceed with any of the recommendations in the further report.
§ Mr. LiptonWill my right hon. Friend assure the House that these five reports are likely to be discussed before the General Election in 1979
§ Mr. FootAmong other enticements to assist us in doing that is ensuring that my hon. Friend will be able to make a full contribution to the debate.