§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what action she plans to take to improve the facilities for reporting of the House. [72130]
§ Mrs. RoeThere are no plans at present to change the arrangements for access to, or the facilities available in, the Reporters' Gallery and Lobby. The latter consist of working space (which includes the Press Gallery library, dining room, cafeteria and bar), and telephones for representatives of the media provided free of charge over three floor levels in the area behind the Speaker's Chair. Filmed interviews of hon. Members by the media may take place in the Interview Rooms off Westminster Hall, the Jubilee Room and the Conference Rooms in the Parliamentary Outbuildings and are also permitted on the Terrace, in New Palace Yard and on Abingdon Green, where permanent power cables are provided for this purpose. It is always open to officers and members of the Press Gallery and Lobby Journalist Committees to present proposals for improvements to these facilities, should they wish to do so.
With respect to the availability of the Official Report, on the Parliamentary website, a matter which I understand is of interest to the hon. Lady, the recommendation of the Procedure Committee was that the electronic Hansard should be made available on the day that the printed report is available. The rules governing the production of the Official Report stipulate that no one may see the contents of the printed report before it is available in the Vote Office the following morning. The only exceptions to that rule are that an hon. Member may read his or her own speech and, of course, the Chair has access to the report if needed.