Members' Facilities (Report) (Hansard, 24 July 1969)

§ Mr. Peart

The Government welcome the Report of the Services Committee on services and facilities for Members. It provides the basis for a substantial improvement in the facilities available to Members in the discharge of their Parliamentary duties. I know that many Members on all sides of the House consider that the existing facilities of the House are inadequate for them to do their job properly. The Government recognise that there is much justice in these criticisms. Many of the desired facilities 475W cannot be provided until the new Parliamentary building becomes available. Nevertheless, I believe that the Government's decisions on this Report will meet many of the complaints which are susceptible to early remedy.

The Government accept the Committee's recommendations, set out in paragraphs 6 to 11 of the Report, on free trunk calls and the extension of free postal facilities for Members in transacting their official business. These new arrangements will begin on 1st October. The Government also accept the recommendations in paragraphs 12 to 14 of the Report for improvements in Members' photocopying, stationery and filing facilities. These improvements will take effect immediately.

The Government recognise that for many Members the provision of adequate secretarial assistance has been an increasing financial burden in recent years. They therefore agree in principle with the Committee's recommendation in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Report on the provision of secretarial assistance for Members. I propose to enter into early discussions on what would be the most efficient and acceptable way of providing Members with the secretarial help that they need, bearing in mind the varying requirements of individual Members and the importance of avoiding unnecessary public expense. I shall consult representative Members on this, and announce the Government's proposals as soon as possible.

The Services Committee, in its Second Report earlier this Session, recommended improved travel concessions for Members, notably in respect of the car allowance. The Government accepts that, in view of the increased cost of travel since the present allowance of 4½d. per mile was fixed, an increase in this allowance is now justified. I shall give details of the new arrangements as soon as possible, and intend at the same time to remove certain anomalies, to which Members have drawn attention, in the present system of travel allowances. I hope also to make an early announcement on the other recommendations in the Committee's Second Report.

Finally, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made plain in his answers in the House on 15th July [Cols. 404– 476W 9], the improvement of facilities for Members is necessarily related to the question of the level of Members' salaries. The Government consider it would be appropriate for the whole question of the level of Members' salaries to be referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes during the next Parliament.