§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how many rooms in the parliamentary estate for the use of(a) hon. Members and (b) hon. Members' staff are currently vacant; and what steps are taken to allow their short-term use by hon. Members in inadequate accommodation pending their long-term allocation.
§ Mr. Ray PowellThe Committee has delegated day-to-day management of accommodation for Members and their staff to the Accommodation Whips and the Serjeant at Arms respectively. They seek to allocate rooms and desks as they become available; and consider short-term use in that context. Such allocation is an ongoing process which makes difficult the estimation of the number of rooms vacant at any one time.