HC Deb 30 January 1989 vol 146 cc17-8
57. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Lord President of the Council what were the takings of the House of Commons kiosk in (a) the four weeks up to Christmas 1988 and (b) the 12 months up to Christmas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wakeham

Kiosk takings for the four-weeks period to Christmas 1988 amounted to £193,249.69 and the figure for the 12-month period to Christmas was £588,007.41. Both amounts include VAT.

Mr. Greenway

Will my right hon. Friend congratulate all concerned on those remarkable figures? Will he accept that most items sold at the kiosk are of a fattening nature and add to the weight of hon. Members, making many, including myself, overweight? A good use of the profits would be to build a swimming pool within the precincts of Parliament to enable hon. Members to help reduce their weight.

Mr. Wakeham

I usually agree with the sentiments expressed by my hon. Friend, but if he is overweight there are ways of reducing weight other than our building a swimming pool. He would have to take up the building of a pool with the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee.

Mr. Skinner

Will the Leader of the House dispel rumours that are going round that the kiosk is being fattened up for privatisation? If there are profits to be made, will the Government look more kindly, not towards providing swimming pools and all the rest, but to giving the profits to the staff who work in the kiosk and elsewhere?

Mr. Wakeham

What is done with the profits is a matter not for me but for the House of Commons Commission. The profits of the Catering Department are substantially used to assist with capital projects and to improve the services of the House. I note the hon. Gentleman's point.