§ Mr. Allen AdamsTo ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the number of staff employed on an agency basis by the House of Commons Commission.
§ Mr. BeithAgency staff are employed on a regular basis in the Refreshment Department to replace permanent staff who are absent as a result of illness, and so on. In the main they cover the duties of porters, general assistants and waiters-waitresses. On average, some 21 such agency staff are employed per week during the period when the House is sitting.
§ Mr. Allen AdamsTo ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will give the number of staff employed by the House of Commons Commission who have left in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. BeithThe number of staff employed by the Commission who have resigned, retired or died in the 12-month period 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 is 125.
§ Mr. Allen AdamsTo ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the number of hours of overtime worked by staff employed by the House of Commons Commission in the last year.
§ Mr. BeithThe information is not available centrally in the form requested and, because overtime is paid at different rates, it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total charge for all overtime paid to House of Commons staff in 1987–88 was £215,503. This figure does not include various night, late duty and shift allowances paid to staff which together amounted to £449,791.
§ Mr. Allen AdamsTo ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the average hourly rate paid to staff employed on an hourly basis by the House of Commons Commission; and what is the average hourly rate paid to staff employed on an agency basis by the Commission.