HC Deb 18 December 2001 vol 377 cc213-4W
Peter Bottomley

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, (1) what information is available to the Commission of the average standard days worked each week by the Parliamentary Commissioner; [21979]

(2) if he has made available to hon. Members the assessment that led the Commission to decide to reduce the Parliamentary Commissioner's days of pay to three days a week. [21978]

Mr. Kirkwood

The Chairman of the Committee on Standards and Privileges has indicated to the Commission that the Commissioner for Standards has worked on average about five days a week.

In setting an appropriate time commitment for the Commissioner, and resources to support the Commissioner's work, the long-term need must be established. The Commission has instructed the House's Internal Review Service to carry out a new assessment of the workload and resources required. The Commission will also seek the advice of the new Commissioner and the Chairman of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, and has undertaken to provide what resources are judged to be required.

Peter Bottomley

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission intended to make the contents of the recent letter from the Parliamentary Commissioner available to hon. Members and to the public. [21982]

Mr. Kirkwood

It is not the practice of the Commission to make public letters written to the Speaker by Officers of the House.