§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the implementation of the recommendations of the House of Commons Services Committee report approved by the House on 30 January.
§ Mr. WakehamThe second report from the Services Committee of Session 1987–88, on access to the precincts of the House (HC 580), was approved by the House on Monday 30 January 1989 by a majority of 168. An amendment to permit the issue of photo-identity passes for the Palace of Westminster to United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament was also approved, by a majority of 106.
Many of the recommendations in the Committee's report relate to the procedures for controlling access and the checking of passholders and are of a mainly advisory character. I expect the appropriate authorities to give careful and early consideration to these recommendations and to take action as they think appropriate.
As recommended in the Committee's report, the restriction on the number of Members' personal staff who may hold photo-identity passes for the Palace of Westminster will come into effect at the beginning of the 1989–90 financial year. I understand that the restriction on access to the Table Office by Members' staff has been in effect since 6 February; and the restriction on access by Members' temporary secretaries to the Members' Library and the Library research division will be enforced with the House returns after the Easter adjournment. In accordance with paragraphs 57 to 59 of the Committee's report, the Serjeant at Arms will be carrying out a detailed 807W examination of the number of passes held by officials of the political parties, Government Departments, the BBC and other agencies, and will report to the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee as soon as possible. The remaining recommendations of the Committee, and the decision of the House concerning the provision of photo-identity passes for Members of the European Parliament, are already in force.