HC Deb 18 January 1988 vol 125 c666
27. Mr. Allen

To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the most up-to-date figure available to him for the total expenditure on staffing, pensions and related matters incurred since the beginning of the current Session in connection with the Scottish Affairs Committee.

Mr. Beith

No expenditure has been incurred since the beginning of this Session specifically in connection with the Scottish Affairs Committee. Staff in the Department: of the Clerk of the House are available for a wide range of duties, not just the service of particular Committees.

Mr. Allen

The staffing arrangements have continued despite the fact that the Select Committee system has not been set up for six months, and the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs has still not been set up. Costs must be incurred for those people, not just for the six months, but for the remaining five years of this Parliament. Leaving aside the obscenity of the fact that Scottish colleagues do not have a Select Committee of their own, which they should, will the hon. Gentleman take away the consideration that he has the right to report to the House and make representations to the Leader of the House on the fact that more than £1 million has been wasted on the Select Committee system? Will the hon. Gentleman bring back a report from the House of Commons Commission as soon as possible?

Mr. Beith

The hon. Gentleman asked about the Scottish Affairs Committee. The two members of staff who were provisionally allocated to work for it are now working for other Committees. Should the Committee subsequently be set up, it will be the responsibility of the head of the Department concerned to ensure that staff are made available for its work.

Mr. Heffer

Is there likely to be consideration of a reversal of the position whereby subcontractors are brought in for cleaning the House, and so on, when those who used to work for the House—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That subject would have come more happily under the first question. This question is about the Scottish Affairs Committee.

Mr. Heffer

I did try.