HC Deb 21 October 1991 vol 196 cc633-4
36. Mr. Butler

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he intends to upgrade the annunciator system.

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

There are as yet no firm proposals to upgrade the annunciator system, but the first step has been taken. During the summer recess, a consultant has been investigating the require-ments for a cable network covering the entire Palace, which would provide hon. Members with information technology facilities but could also carry a modernised annunciator system. His report is expected to be presented before the end of the year.

Mr. Butler

Is not the technology for the annunciator system nearly a quarter of a century old? When we have a new system, will it be able to take an audio feed from the Chamber?

Mr. MacGregor

I believe that it is nearly a quarter of a century old. However, it was decided a little while ago that as the system was still working satisfactorily it did not make sense to change it outside the context of an examination of a cable network for the House as a whole. We have therefore taken the first steps in that regard, and the House will recall that the matter was debated in July 1991. Shortly after that debate, the House of Commons Commission gave the necessary approval for the consultancy study. That is now proceeding and we shall progress to the next stage after that.

Dr. Cunningham

May I strongly support the reply of the Leader of the House to the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler)? We should not waste money on an outdated annunciator system when we need to recable the House so that hon. Members can have access to information systems, data bases and as many television channels as we decide appropriate. I hope that we would decide that it was appropriate to have the live feed from the House as well.

Mr. MacGregor

The hon. Gentleman knows that I agree with him about how we should proceed on that matter. He will be aware that after the consultancy study the next stage is to set up a specialist working party to draw up the specifications for the interfaces required to produce a list of approved computers. The other matters can also be considered.