HC Deb 25 March 1991 vol 188 cc605-6
32. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many research assistants are currently employed in the House.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John MacGregor)

The total number of research assistants holding photo-identity passes for the House at 12 March 1991 was 465.

Mr. Marshall

I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. I suspect that there has been a significant reduction in the number of research assistants since the new limit was introduced. Is there any means of checking the quality of work of those assistants? Clearly, the Labour party's figures do not add up.

Mr. MacGregor

There has been a reduction in the number of research assistants, although the limit recommended by the Services Committee relates to photo-identity passes for all staff and not just for research assistants. When that limit was introduced, the number was over 600. It is now 465. Beyond what hon. Members do, there is no check, as such, on the quality of work of research assistants. In response to my hon. Friend's final point, I confirm that many questions could be asked about various aspects of Labour party policy.

Mr. Foulkes

Is the leader of the House aware that some of us are becoming rather fed up with the continued gratuitous attacks on people who do a good job of work? It is about time that we had more politics in this place instead of the commercial entertaining that is done by Conservative Members. The flummery of this place, with swords and all the other paraphernalia, is so outdated. The sooner that this is a working Parliament, the better it will be for the people of Britain.

Mr. MacGregor

I am not quite clear what the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question has to do with the original question. It seems that the hon. Gentleman, uncharacteristically, is being a little sensitive especially about the quality of some of the work that is going into Labour party policy, which was the point made by my hon. Friend the member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall).

Mr. Simon Hughes

As a serious proposition has been put forward by the London School of Economics for the use of county hall as a library for this House and the other place, and as the Chairman of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee has canvassed with some support the idea of Members' accommodation being found in county hall—and bearing in mind that the consortium bidding for county hall has gone bust,—will the Leader of the House seriously consider using that building to accommodate research assistants, other support staff and even Members of this House and the other place?

Mr. MacGregor

I think that it would be right to continue with the completion, which is very near, of phase 1 of Bridge street, which will improve facilities for Members and their secretaries considerably, and then to move on to phase 2, which will again add considerably to facilities.

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