§ 28. Mr. AllenTo ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will bring forward proposals to develop the numbers employed by the Commission to improve staff support to individual hon. Members.
§ Mr. A. J. BeithThe Commission's responsibility is to ensure that there are adequate numbers of staff of the right experience, qualification and expertise to provide support for the House as a whole. The Commission's success in carrying out this responsibility is evident from the high quality of service provided to Members.
§ Mr. AllenWould not hon. Members be assisted to become full-time Members if those who wished it could employ more staff, rather than being limited to the numbers that they can employ on the current office allowance? What is the hon. Gentleman's opinion on that? Can he suggest a way forward so that hon. Members who wish to do a full-time professional job can be enabled to do so?
§ Mr. BeithThe arrangements for hon. Members to employ staff working individually for them are made under the office costs allowance, which is decided on a resolution of the House. The Commission's staff serve the House as a whole and it would require a decision of the House and some debate in the Chamber before that practice was changed.