§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many cleaners are employed within the House and its associated offices; how many hours on average each cleaner works; and what is the hourly rate of pay for each grade of cleaner.
§ Mr. BeithThe House currently employs one full-time cleaner working 37 hours per week and 69 part-time524W cleaners working 17 hours per week in the Serjeant at Arms Department and one part-time cleaner in charge working 30 hours per week and four part-time cleaners working 28¼ hours per week in the Department of the Library. In negotiations recently concluded between management and the relevant trade union representatives, the number of part-time cleaners in the Serjeant's Department will, over time, be reduced to 62 by natural wastage.
The hourly rate of pay of the cleaners is £4.7044 per hour, rising to £4.78 after five years' service, and that of the cleaner in charge is £4.94/0.37 depending on length of service, rising to £5.56 after three years' satisfactory service and £5.75 after a further three years satisfactory service.