§ 38. Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Lord President of the Council what is the total number of passes issued to hon. Members in respect of their personal staff; what was the figure for 1979; and how many hon. Members have two, three, four, five or more passes.
§ Mr. WakehamThe latest Pass Office figures show that a total of 1,186 photo-identity passes are on issue to hon. Members' personal staff. I regret that comparable figures for 1979 are not available. The latest figures show that 149 hon. Members employ two photo-pass holders, 75 hon. Members employ three photo-pass holders, 43 hon. Members employ four photo-pass holders and 38 hon. Members employ five or more photo-pass holders.
§ Mr. BennettIs it not astonishing that 38 hon. Members need five or more staff to assist them in their role as hon. Members? Will my right hon. Friend consider putting a limit on the number of passes issued to individual hon. Members and draw to their attention the fact that perhaps one of the most effective Back Benchers this century—the right hon. J. Enoch Powell—was able to do his own research?
§ Mr. WakehamMy hon. Friend is right. The Services Committee's second report, "Access to the Precincts of the House," which was published in July, is on this subject. I intend that it should be debated in the near future.