§ 85. Mr. CohenTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will set up in the Palace of Westminster and its outbuildings a network of fax machines for use by hon. Members.
§ Mr. WakehamI have no plans to do so.
§ Mr. CohenFax machines are high-tech extensions of photocopiers and telephones, both of which are available for hon. Members. Should not the machine's general availability be one of the fax of life in this Parliament?
§ Mr. WakehamAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the matter was considered by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee not long ago. The conclusion was that it should be the responsibility of individual Members to provide their own machines, if that is what they want to do. There is a much-enhanced allowance—I shall say no more than that—for office expenses, which makes it possible to do so nowadays.