§ Mr· David Atkinsonasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will consult hon. Members and their staff who have offices in the Norman Shaw buildings regarding the extension of opening hours of the Norman Shaw north issue office; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will refer the opening hours of the Norman Shaw north issue office to the Services Committee; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Lord Privy Seal what steps he is taking to bring into line the opening hours of the Norman Shaw north issue office with the main basement Vote Office; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BiffenI will ask the relevant Sub-Committee of the Services Committee to review this question. I am sure that the Sub-Committee will conduct consultations among those concerned before making its recommendations.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Lord Privy Seal why there is a delay of parliamentary papers being delivered to the Norman Shaw north issue office; what steps he is taking to alleviate the problem; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BiffenI am not aware of any general problem of delay in the delivery of parliamentary papers to the Norman Shaw issue office. Documents are sent between 579W the main Vote Office stores and Norman Shaw by van twice daily; and papers for issue during the day are taken over by hand between van deliveries. Papers of the day are avialable at 10 am when the issue office opens. If my hon. Friend has any particular complaint, I will ask the Deliverer of the Vote to investigate it.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Lord Privy Seal how many (a) temporary or part-time staff and (b) full-time staff are employed by (i) the Norman Shaw north issue office and (ii) the main basement Vote Office; and how this compares with 1974 and 1979.
§ Mr. BiffenThe Norman Shaw issue office is manned by two full-time staff, and has been since its inception in 1974. They are assisted from time to time by other Vote Office staff drawn from other sections based in Norman Shaw. The main basement Vote Office has a rotating pattern of duties which involve
24 part-time staff between 7.30 am and 10 pm daily.8 full-time staff at varying times between 7.30 am and the rising of the House.There are never more than three or fewer than two employed in the main store on duties equivalent to those in the Norman Shaw issue office.
Overall staff complement figures for the Vote Office are as follows:
Permanent Temporary 1974* 16 10 1979 18 19 1986† 19 25 * Norman Shaw Issue Office opened in 1974.
ߤ New system for early-morning delivery within three miles radius of Westminster instituted in 1985.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Lord Privy Seal what are the opening hours during sitting days of (a) the Norman Shaw north issue office and (b) the main basement Vote Office; and how this compares with 1974 and 1979.
§ Mr. BiffenThe opening hours of the Norman Shaw issue office on sitting days are 10 am to 6 pm. These hours have been the same since the office opened in 1974. The opening hours of the main basement Vote Office on sitting days have remained unchanged since 1842, namely 7.30 am to the rising of the House.