§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what facilities will be available for hon. Members and their staff during the period of closure of the Commons kitchens; and for how long the kitchens will be closed. [70382]
§ Mr. Dennis TurnerThe final phase (Phase F) of the House of Commons Refreshment Department Modernisation Programme, which was approved by the House in July 1994, will necessitate closure of the Department's main kitchens, (which service the Members' and the Strangers' Dining Rooms, the private dining rooms and the banqueting facilities), from the end of July 1999 until the end of February 2000.
During this period, normal services will be maintained throughout the Refreshment Department's cafeterias and in the Members' Tea Room. The Members' Dining Room will continue to offer a Strangers' lunch service and a Members' evening service, although the menu will have to be considerably reduced to enable catering staff to transfer food from temporary kitchens which will be sited in Peers' Court. The Churchill Room will also remain available to Members and their guests for both lunch and dinner. It is hoped that the Pugin Room will continue to operate a normal service, although a final decision on this has yet to be made. All other bar services, including the Smoking Room will operate as normal.
I do have to advice my hon. Friend that, unfortunately, the following services will not be available from the end of July until the new kitchens are operational in March 2000: the Strangers' Dining Rooms A, B, C and D. The Chess Room will also be closed. The Terrace Pavilion will not be available for any functions requiring food service, but its possible use for "drinks only" receptions remains under consideration.
424WOnce the exact range of facilities that will be available has been finalised, I will write to all hon. Members to advise them of the services that it will be possible to provide.