HC Deb 05 April 1990 vol 170 c713W
Mr. Strang

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many staff in the House of Commons have first aid or medical training; how many of these staff are available in the case of accidents; and where these staff are located.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

Fifty members of staff of the House, 127 police officers, 108 security officers and 12 members of the fire section are trained in first aid including resuscitation techniques. Quotas of staff from all Departments of the House have been agreed bearing in mind the need to provide cover in the outbuildings as well as having first aiders available by day and night. Their location is shown in the green page supplement in the front of the Palace of Westminster telephone directory.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Lord President of the Council what first aid provision is provided by the House; what form this takes; where such provision is located; and what first aid information is made available to the staff who work in the House and its outbuildings.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

Details of first aid provision and procedures to be followed in an emergency are contained in the leaflet "Medical Facilities and First Aid in the Palace of Westminster and in the Parliamentary Outbuildings" issued jointly by the Serjeant at Arms and Black Rod. I am arranging for a copy to be sent to the hon. Gentleman. Notices indicating the location of first aiders and first aid boxes are displayed in the Palace of Westminster and outbuildings, and details of first aid and medical facilities are given in appendix D of the staff handbook which is issued to all members of staff.

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
(a) Palace of Westminster-reported accidents
Members n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 3 1 2
Members' staff n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 1 1 2
Administration department's staff n.a. n.a. n.a.
Refreshment department's staff 15 44 26 34 47 29 31 20 25 66
Other departments' staff n.a. 19 13 11 9 13 14 7 7 19
Outside contractors n.a. 2 3 1 1 1 3
General public n.a. 22 29 20 22 35 18 14 8 12
(b) Parliamentary outbuildings—reported accidents
Members n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 1
Members' staff n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 1 3 1
Administration department's staff n.a. n.a. n.a. 2 8 1 4 2
Refreshment department's staff
Other departments' staff n.a. 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 1
Outside contractors n.a.
General public n.a.
n.a. = Not available.

The number of people in each category are:

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