§ Mr. CohenTo ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff of the House(a) are and (b) are not obliged to clock on for work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BeithTwo hundred and twenty two staff of the House are required to clock on for work and 695 are not required to do so. The former are industrial staff employed in the Refreshment Department. The requirement for these staff to clock on reflects the provisions of the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978 under which conditions of staff of the House are kept broadly in line with those in the Civil Service, where industrial staff are required to record their hours of work. It also facilitates the calculation of overtime pay for those staff who are required to work shifts and who have varied starting and finishing times.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, when clocking-on for Refreshment Department staff was first introduced; under what conditions as to its duration; and if he has any plans to end the practice.
§ Mr. BeithClocking-on for industrial staff in the Refreshment Department was introduced as a permanent arrangement in 1967 on the advice of a consultant engaged by the Department. The old system of clock cards was discontinued in the latter part of 1986 and replaced, after consultation with the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA), by a modern electronic system. When the system was first introduced there was no official trade union representation in the Refreshment Department. Consultation did take place, however, when the system was upgraded in 1986. After allowing a settling-in period in which to gain experience, it was decided to review the system. A consultant has been engaged, through the CCTA, who will report to management. The future of the present system will then be considered.