§ Mr. SteenTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith), representing the House of Commons Commission, what is his policy on the provision of overnight sleeping accommodation for staff; what is the annual cost of providing overnight sleeping accommodation for staff; and what alternatives have been considered for(a) uses of the allocated sleeping accommodation and (b) arranging overnight staff accommodation in local hotels.
§ Mr. BeithOvernight sleeping accommodation is provided for essential staff of the House who are required to be on duty at late hours. The only costs arising directly from this provision are those for laundry, which at present cannot readily be separately identified. There is no plan to alter existing arrangements.