HC Deb 20 March 1989 vol 149 c457W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Lord President of the Council how are holders of research assistants' passes with access to the Library reviewed in order to ensure that those who would make fullest use of them are able to do so.

Mr. Wakeham

The passes issued to right hon. and hon. Members for use by their research assistants which give limited access to the Members' Library, are issued for a period of one year in the first instance, and are then renewable on application for three further years. Research assistants holding such passes are required to sign a register each time they use the Library in order to ensure that not more than 15 of them are in the Library at the same time. There is no systematic monitoring of frequency of usage: nor would it appear desirable or practicable to do so.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members are on the waiting list for research assistants' passes with access to the Library.

Mr. Wakeham

Twenty-nine.