§ 33. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the Commission's current estimate of the staff overtime bill for 1996–97. [17785]
§ Mr. MarshallDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that our staff who work this overtime serve the House with skill, courtesy and charm? Therefore, does he further agree that it is quite unnecessary for 70 members of our staff to go to a charm school during the general election campaign? Would not the money spent on that charm school be better spent on some hon. Members?
§ Mr. BeithNo overtime payments are involved in the training programmes that go on in the House and affect a far larger number of people. If there are valuable courses of this kind, I should be tempted to go on them myself, but I expect to be busy during the general election period.