HC Deb 03 April 1995 vol 257 c1384
28. Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee what plans he has to make refreshment facilities available for visitors. [15718]

Mr. Paul Channon (Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee)

In its first report of 1992–93, "Refreshment Provision for Line of Route Visitors", the Catering Committee recommended that the area currently occupied by the Westminster Hall cafeteria should he converted to a visitor centre, but that that should take place only when a suitable alternative has been found for the present lunchtime users of that cafeteria. The House agreed the report on 12 July 1994.

Mrs. Campbell

I thank the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee for that reply. I am glad to hear that some progress has been made. Is he confident that when I am visited by children in the future, as I was recently by 80 children from Arbury county primary school of Cambridge, those children will be able to sit and eat their sandwiches inside instead of having to go outside and eat them in the rain?

Mr. Channon

I entirely agree that that is very much to be desired. The Director of Works is currently preparing design options, which will have to be considered by the various Committees of the House. The serious problem is that between 400 and 450 people already have meals in the Westminster Hall cafeteria. Some suitable alternative must be found for them before much else can be done.

Mr. Dunn

As one of the bars to extending facilities in the House is the lack of space, is my right hon. Friend aware that a number of rooms are currently used by policy advisers to the Labour party and are therefore now redundant?

Mr. Channon

Perhaps my hon. Friend would be kind enough to refer that matter to the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee.