§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will publish both the criteria and procedures to be followed by hon. Members who want to apply for House of Commons passes for more than three members of staff.
§ Mr. WakehamIn accordance with paragraph 54 of the report from the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) on access to the precincts of the House (HC 580, Session 1987–88), which was approved by the House on Monday 30 January 1989, the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee is empowered to recommend to the Services Committee an increase in the limit on the number of staff passes for which an individual Member may apply
where they are satisfied that exceptional circumstances apply".The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee recently agreed that right hon. or hon. Members who wish to retain more than three passes for members of their personal staff should, in the first instance, apply in writing to the Serjeant at Arms. The Serjeant at Arms will refer individual cases to the Chairman of the Sub-Committee, who will seek the advice of the full Sub-Committee where necessary.
No formal criteria have been laid down by the Sub-Committee, and I expect it to consider each case on its merits. As I indicated in the debate, however at column 110, I envisage that the right hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Orme) and his Sub-Committee will look sympathetically at the claims of Members with particular responsibilities, including Front Bench spokesmen, some senior Members, and minority party leaders.
I understand that the Serjeant at Arms will be writing next week to all Members with passes in excess of three to draw their attention to the new limit to be introduced at the beginning of the new financial year, and to the procedure to be followed.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Lord President of the Council whether he has any information showing the issue of House passes to overseas students by hon. Members of the respective political parties represented in the House.
§ Mr. WakehamThe latest Pass Office figures show a total of 41 students from overseas attached to or employed by Members. The detailed breakdown by party is as follows:
Numbers Labour 22 Conservative 13 Social and Liberal Democrats 4 Social Democrats 2