HC Deb 11 February 1992 vol 203 cc454-5W
Mr. Harris

To ask the Lord President of the Council what arrangements will be made for answering hon. Members' questions relating to the services of the House, following the appointment of the new committees recommended in Sir Robin Ibbs' report on House of Commons services.

Mr. MacGregor

I intend in the near future to make a minor change in the question rota consequent upon the replacement of the Services Committee by the Finance and Services Committee and the new Domestic Committees. After consultation with the House of Commons Commission, I have agreed that a small amount of time should be set aside for oral questions to the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee, who will respond in particular to questions concerning the estimates for House of Commons expenditure (which will be prepared under his Committee's supervision), the financial performance of Departments of the House, and the financial implications of any new or expanded services which may be proposed by the committees appointed under Standing Order No. 125 (Domestic Committees).

In order to accommodate these questions without further consequential changes to the rest of the question rota, I intend to arrange for questions to the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee to be taken every third Monday at 3.20 pm, with questions to the Lord President of the Council as Leader of the House following at 3.25 pm.

Questions to the Member answering on behalf of the House of Commons Commission will continue to be taken every sixth Monday, at 3.15 pm.

In addition, following the replacement of the Services Committee by individual Domestic Committees, Questions concerning the exercise of the responsibilities of those Committees should be tabled for written answer to the Chairman of the Committee concerned.

I shall, of course, continue to answer questions on a wide range of matters as Leader of the House.