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Handbook onfacilities andservices forMembers
2008
HOUSE OF LORDS
• Other rooms for Members 30
• Travel Office 31
• Lockers 32
• Cash machines 32
• Photo booth 32
• Chapel of St Mary Undercroft 32
• Westminster gymnasium 33
• Hairdressing 33
Library and other information services 34• Library 35
• Parliamentary papers: the Printed Paper Office 38
• Information Office 41
• Parliamentary Education Service 42
• Parliamentary Archives 43
• Annunciators 44
• Internet and intranet 46
• Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) 48
IT services 50• Computer helplines 51
• Training 52
• Computer equipment and software 52
• Parliamentary user accounts and e-mail 53
• Remote access 54
• Computers available for Members’ use 55
Post and Members’ addresses 58• Contact details 59
• Receiving mail 59
• Sending mail 60
• Post offices 62
• Commercial activities 63
Introduction 1
The parliamentary estate 4• Maps 5
• Telephone numbers 5
• Entrances 6
• Car parking 8
• Bicycle/motorcycle parking 8
• Photo-identity passes 9
• Security 10
• Lost property 11
• Fire and other emergencies 11
• Health, safety and welfare 12
• Facilities available for Members’ spouses 14
• Retired Bishops 15
• Hereditary peers excluded from the House 15
• Guests 16
• Visitors’ tours 17
• Admission to Lords debates for guests and family 18
• State Opening of Parliament, robes 19
• Admission to Commons debates 20
• Clock Tower tours 20
• Photography, filming, radio and TV interviews 21
• Smoking policy 21
Accommodation and facilities 22• Members’ offices 23
• Desks within the Palace 23
• Telephones and messaging services 24
• Pagers 26
• Fax machines and photocopiers 26
• Stationery 26
• Consumables 27
• Committee, conference and interview rooms 27
Domestic committees and administrat i o n 96• House Committee 97
• Administrative structure of the House (diagram) 98
• The domestic committees 99
• Other administrative committees 100
• Audit Committee 102
• Management Board 102
• Administrative offices 103
• Feedback from Members 110
• Treatment of staff 112
• Whips’ offices 113
Index 114
Catering facilities 64• Refreshment Department 65
• Members only facilities 66
• Guest facilities 66
• Cafeterias 67
• Private parties and functions 68
• Payment 69
• Dress 69
• House of Lords catering facilities 70
• House of Lords function suites 72
• House of Commons catering facilities 73
Allowances 76• Members’ expenses 77
Business of the House 80• How to get procedural information 81
• Sitting times 81
• Documents 82
• Tabling questions and motions 84
• Signing up to speak in a debate 85
• Bills and amendments 86
• Interests (financial, personal) 87
• Select Committees 89
• Hansard, the Official Report 91
• Broadcasting of proceedings 94
1
This is the fifth edition of the Members’ Handbook which provides a briefguide to all the facilities and services you may find useful while you are atthe House of Lords or working on Parliamentary business.
The emphasis in this book is on practical information; the guide to theprocedure of the House remains the Companion to the Standing Orders.
We are grateful for the feedback we have received since publishing the lastedition and continue to welcome feedback for future editions: anysuggestions should be sent by letter to the Information Office, or by e-mail to [email protected].
Michael Pownall
Clerk of the Parliaments
April 2008
INTRODUCTION
32
PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAP 2
THE PARLIAMENTARY
ESTATE
5
Maps
• Map 1: The Parliamentary estate: inside front.
• Map 2: Westminster area, including public transport links: pages 2-3.
• Map 3: Ground floor of the Palace: pages 120-121.
• Map 4: Principal floor of the Palace: pages 122-123.
• Map 5: First floor of the Palace: pages 124-125.
• Map 6: Principal floor of the Palace (Lords end): inside back.
Telephone numbers
The phone numbers given in this handbook are extension numbers withinthe Parliamentary phone network. To dial them from phones within thatnetwork, just dial the extension number. To dial them from outside thenetwork, preface the extension with the code ‘020 7219’.
To get an outside line from a phone within the Parliamentary estate, prefacethe number with ‘9’. For more information about the phone system, see page24.
54
76
Non-sitting days
Entrance Times
Subway to Westminster underground station 7.00 am to 8.00 pm
Carriage Gates Open 365 daysAccess by automatic passreader
Cromwell Green Entrance 8.00 am to 6.00 pmSunday closed
St Stephen’s Entrance 8.00 am to 6.00 pmSunday closed
Peers’ Entrance 8.30 am to 6.00 pmSaturday and Sunday closed
Black Rod’s Garden 7.00 am to 11.00 pmEntrance Sunday closed
Millbank House 7.30 am to 11.00 pmSaturday and Sunday access by automaticpassreader via 7 Little College Street
1 The Abbey Garden 24 hoursAccess by automatic passreader
7 Old Palace Yard 24 hoursAccess by automatic passreader
Fielden House 24 hoursAccess by automatic passreader
Entrances
The Peers’ Entrance is the principal entrance for Members. Peers’ Entrancemay also be used by Members’ families, and Members may receive up tosix guests there (see page 16). Members are responsible for meeting theirguests at Peers’ Entrance.
Sitting days
Entrance Times
Subway to Westminster 7.00 am to one hour after the rise of theunderground station last House
Carriage Gates Open 365 daysAccess by automatic passreader
Cromwell Green Entrance 8.00 am to one hour after the rise of the lastHouse
St Stephen’s Entrance 8.00 am to one hour after the rise of the lastHouse
Peers’ Entrance 8.30 am to one hour after the rise of theLords
Black Rod’s Garden 7.00 am to one hour after the rise of theEntrance last House
Millbank House 7.30 am to one hour after the rise of theLords
1 The Abbey Garden 24 hoursAccess by automatic passreader
7 Old Palace Yard 24 hoursAccess by automatic passreader
Fielden House 24 hoursAccess by automatic passreader
9
Photo-identity passes
Contact Office: Pass Office, Black Rod’s Garden Entrance tel: 3788(map 3, A2)
Members must obtain a photo-identity pass. These passes can be obtainedquickly by appointment with the Pass Office at Black Rod’s Garden Entrance(3788).
Passholders must always wear their passes while they are on theParliamentary estate. They should remove them when they leave the estate.
Spouses
Spouses may obtain passes from the Pass Office if they are accompaniedpersonally by the Member or if they have a letter of authority written by theMember together with proof of identification.
Members’ staff
Members must also obtain passes for their secretaries and researchassistants. Pass application forms for this purpose are available from BlackRod’s Office (up to a maximum of three passes per Member) (map 6, B2).Holders of photo-identity passes as Members’ secretaries or researchassistants are required to register interests with regard to employment andgifts or benefits. Further information is available from the Registrar (tel:3120).
8
Car parking
Contact Office: Black Rod’s Office tel: 3100
Members’ car parking is available in Old Palace Yard, immediately in front ofthe House. Limited parking is also available in the courtyards. Whenrequired Members are requested to leave their keys in the Key Room, nearBlack Rod’s Garden Entrance. Members wishing to bring their cars to thePalace should apply to Black Rod’s office for a parking permit, which shouldbe displayed whenever the car is within the precincts of the Lords. Forsecurity reasons the permit should be removed as the vehicle leaves thepremises.
Some parking spaces may also be available for Members in Abingdon StreetCar Park (for regular attenders only, contact Black Rod’s Office).
Congestion charge: payment facilities
There are congestion charge payment machines in the Commons near tothe Terrace Cafeteria (next to the cashpoints) (map 3, D2), and in theAbingdon Street car park. The charge can also be paid online atwww.cclondon.com and by phone on 0845 900 1234.
Bicycle/motorcycle parking
Bicycles and motorcycles may be parked in State Officers’ Court andChancellor’s Court (see map 3, B2). Provision is made for rechargingelectric motorcycles in Chancellor’s Court.
11
Lost property
Contact Office: Attendants’ Office (Peers’ Lobby Mail Room) tel: 3366 (map 6, D3)
Property lost or found should be reported to the Attendants’ Office, Peers’Lobby. Anything not claimed may be disposed of after six months.
Fire and other emergencies
Contact Offices: Emergencies tel: 3333Security Control tel: 5311, 5312Black Rod’s Office tel: 3100
There are several ‘break-glass’ fire alarm points throughout the Palace ofWestminster. If you discover a fire you should use one of these points or ring3333. Do not dial 999.
Warning signals are sounded when a fire alarm has been raised. Membersshould follow the instructions transmitted over the voice alarm system.
In other cases of emergency similar signals will be sounded and theinstructions given should be followed.
Further information
The leaflet Fire Precautions and Fire Safety Measures in the Palace ofWestminster and Parliamentary Outbuildings is available from Black Rod’sOffice.
10
Security
Contact Offices: Emergencies tel: 3333Security Control tel: 5311 or 5312Head of Security tel: 5431Black Rod’s Office tel: 3100Crime Prevention Officer tel: 3822
All Members are asked to remain alert, report any suspicious or unusualincidents to Security Control (5311) and assist the security staff at all times.
The Police advise that Members should exercise vigilance regarding theirpersonal security. Police guidance is available in a blue booklet issued bythe Metropolitan Police, copies of which can be obtained from the Head ofSecurity.
Private papers and property
Members and their staff should ensure that desks, filing cabinets andcupboards are kept locked when not in use, and that keys are not left ineasily accessible places. Private and confidential papers and articles ofvalue left in rooms should be locked away. Valuable computer and officehardware should, wherever possible, be secured and properly marked.Computer data and disks should be kept in a safe place. Crime preventionadvice and a property marking service are available through the CrimePrevention Officer.
The authorities at the Palace of Westminster cannot be held responsible forany loss or damage to property sustained by Members or any other personwithin the precincts. Members are, therefore, strongly advised to arrangeinsurance of any personal property which is left on the Parliamentary estate.
13
Acute GP service (Victoria Medical Centre)
This off-site service for Members is designed for acute medical problemsarising while a Member is away from home. If required, Members should firstcontact the Palace of Westminster Nurse (5103). If the Nurse is notavailable, and from 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm, Members should contact the practicedirectly on tel: 0870 417 3932 or fax: 020 7233 5995.
Ring 1484 for a leaflet giving further information on this service, includingsurgery opening times.
Medical screening (OHSWS)
Members are eligible for a free medical screen once every three years.Members will be contacted by the Occupational Health, Safety and WelfareService and offered an appointment. The screen is conducted by a nurseand a follow-up interview is subsequently offered with a doctor. Sessionsnormally take place in the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service’soffices in 7 Millbank.
Health and safety
For guidance and advice on any health and safety issues contact the Healthand Safety Adviser on tel: 1505.
Overseas travel
Members who travel overseas on official business may obtain advice andinformation on how to stay healthy from the Practice Nurse in the LowerWaiting Hall (tel: 5103). If, for the purposes of completing a visa, you arerequired to provide your blood group, contact the Practice Nurse to arrangean appointment for blood testing.
Appropriate vaccinations, medication and up-to-date travel advice areprovided via the Occupational Health Service at St Thomas’ Hospital (tel:020 7188 4152). Forms for completion before going to St Thomas’ can beobtained from the OHSWS Office Manager (tel: 1484) or from the OHSWSintranet site.
12
Health, Safety and Welfare
Contacts: Emergencies tel: 3333Nurse tel: 5103Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service tel: 1484
Accidents and emergencies
Medical emergencies should be reported to Security Control on 3333, whowill, if appropriate, summon ambulance and paramedic support from StThomas’ Hospital. Do not dial 999.
A number of members of staff are qualified in first aid, and in the use of theautomatic defibrillators which are positioned throughout the House and Lordsoutbuildings.
Members of both Houses who are doctors are often present and, in anemergency, their assistance is sought through the Doorkeepers.
Any injury, accident or violent occurrence affecting Members or their staffwhilst at work should be reported to Black Rod’s Office. The official accidentreport form should be completed as soon as possible, as prompt reportingwill ensure that the appropriate action is taken to avoid reoccurrence. Nearmisses or safety suggestions may also be reported using the ‘Action forSafety’ cards held in receptions and communal areas throughout the estate.These help ensure actions are taken before an accident takes place.
Nurse
A nurse, who can provide routine medical support, is based in the MedicalRoom off the Lower Waiting Hall near the Family Room (map 4, D3).
The Nurse can be contacted in the Medical Room (tel: 5103) or paged viaSecurity Control.
There is normally a Nurse on duty on weekdays as follows:
• Monday to Thursday: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
• Friday: 9.00 am to 4.00 pm.
15
Retired Bishops
Retired Bishops are entitled to a photographic pass which will enable themto take advantage of the facilities available to Members outside theChamber. They may sit on the steps of the Throne, and may, for example,use the Library (although not the research facilities), the Peers’ Guest Room,the Peers’ Dining Room with up to five guests (reservations tel: 3395 or4222), and the Barry Room with up to seven guests (reservations tel: 5966).
Retired Bishops are, however, no longer entitled to receive a regular supplyof parliamentary papers through the Printed Paper Office.
Hereditary Peers excluded from the House
Hereditary Peers excluded from the House under the House of Lords Act areentitled to a photographic pass which will enable them:
• to sit on the steps of the Throne
• to use Peers’ Entrance
• to use the Library when the House is not sitting (but they may not borrowbooks, access the Parliamentary Network, or commission research)
• to use the Peers’ Guest Dining Room once a month with up to three guests (reservations tel: 3395 or 4222). The Peers’ Guest Roommay also be used on those occasions when a Dining Room reservationhas been made.
14
Facilities available for Members’ spouses
Members’ spouses are entitled (once issued with a photographic pass) touse the House facilities in the same way as a member of staff.
Members’ spouses are entitled to enter at any of the entrances, exceptMembers’ Entrance in the House of Commons.
Members’ spouses may bring in two guests on the strength of their photo-identity pass. They must enter through Cromwell Green Entrance, unlessprior arrangements have been made to meet the relevant Member at thePeers’ Entrance.
Members’ spouses are entitled to take two people on the Visitors’ tour oncethey have obtained a permit from the Central Tours Office (3003, see page17).
Female spouses may use the Peeresses’ Gallery and the Peeresses’Retiring Room on a first come first served basis.
A spouse may lunch or dine alone (i.e. without a Member or without guests)in the River Restaurant. They may also use the Peers’ Guest Room.
17
Visitors’ tours
Contact Office: Central Tours Office tel: 3003
Members may take up to six visitors along the Visitor Route through thePalace without obtaining a permit, when the route is open.
For larger groups (up to a maximum of 20), Members should obtain a permitfrom the Central Tours Office (CTO). This will allow them or a member oftheir staff in possession of a permanent photo-identity pass to take the groupon this tour. Alternatively, an approved guide may be arranged through theCTO. There is no charge for a guide during normal hours of Visitor Routeoperation.
These tours are available at the following times:
• Term time: Monday - Wednesday 9.00 am to 12.00 noon; Friday (when Houses are sitting) 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm, (when Houses arenot sitting) 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.
• Recesses (not Summer or Christmas): Monday - Friday 9.30 am to 5.00pm.
Tours will still run at the times shown above if one House is sitting but willexclude the areas associated with that House.
During the Summer Recess the Palace is open to the paying public. Somemornings are reserved for Members’ tours; details can be found on theSerjeant at Arms’ intranet site or by calling the CTO.
Further information
The leaflet Visitors to Parliament is available from the Staff Superintendent’sOffice (tel: 3213).
16
Guests
Members’ guests should enter through the Cromwell Green Entrance. Theywill have access to a fast track lane, separate to that used by visitors to thepublic galleries. Guests will be directed by visitor assistants to Peers’ Lobby,where they should be met by their hosts. Family members of peers, andguests of whom a peer is able personally to vouch, may use Peers’ Entranceprovided that the name of the family member or guest has been notified inadvance to the doorkeepers at Peers’ Entrance (tel: 5357). Peers’ shouldmeet the family member or guest inside Peers’ Entrance. Guests whosenames have not been notified in advance to Peers’ Entrance will be directedto the Cromwell Green Entrance.
Members may receive up to six guests at Peers’ Entrance. Members areresponsible for meeting their guests and for escorting them throughout theirvisit to the House, either personally or by a member of their own staff inpossession of a permanent photo-identity pass.
Special arrangements may be made for guests with disabilities, such asparking in Old Palace Yard. For further information, contact Black Rod’sOffice or see the leaflet Facilities for visitors with disabilities, available fromthat office.
19
Spouses and children of Members
Spouses of Members are entitled to use the Peeresses’ Galleries on eitherside of the Chamber, or to be seated below the Bar. No prior applicationneed be made, but spouses are requested to sign the book in the Prince’sChamber.
A Member’s eldest child (or the eldest son where the right has previouslybeen exercised) may watch the proceedings of the House from the Steps ofthe Throne. A Member’s other children may stand at the Bar of the House.
General public
Members of the general public who wish to attend the Chamber of theHouse should wait outside Cromwell Green Entrance or in Westminster Hallduring inclement weather until directed by the Police Officer to move into thePeers’ Corridor. Members of the public are admitted immediately after theend of prayers.
State Opening of Parliament, robes
Contact Office: Black Rod’s Office tel: 3100
Black Rod’s Office issues a notice to Members in advance of each StateOpening of Parliament, setting out the detailed arrangements for theattendance of guests, access, etc.
For both State Opening (when there is a ballot) and introductions, robes maybe borrowed from a small stock held by Black Rod in his capacity asSecretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain. Messrs Ede and Ravenscroft alsohold a stock of robes for hire (tel: 020 7405 3906).
18
Admission to Lords debates for guests andfamily
Contact Office: Black Rod’s Office tel: 3100
The following section provides information about admission to the Chamberfor non-Members while the House is sitting. Further information is availablefrom Black Rod’s Office.
Information about seating in the Chamber for Members can be found in theCompanion and the brief guide Procedure and Practice.
Guests
Black Rod controls the admission of all visitors to the galleries of the Houseof Lords, and advance applications for tickets for guests to attend theChamber should be made to Black Rod’s Office. Members who wish toobtain tickets for a sitting once that sitting has started should approach theDoorkeepers in Peers’ Lobby direct.
Members who wish guests to attend at the start of business should apply asfar in advance as possible.
Members who wish to apply for gallery seats after the beginning of businessshould give an approximate time of arrival for their visitors, who will beplaced on the Late List and seated as places become available. Membersshould note that guests on the Late List may not be guaranteed a particularseat.
Guests who wish to sit below bar in the Chamber should be dressedappropriately (e.g. collar and tie for men).
Guests who are not accompanied by a Member should be instructed to enterthe Palace by Cromwell Green Entrance and to make their way to Peers’Lobby to collect their tickets.
Photography, filming, radio and TV interviews
Contact Office: Black Rod’s Office tel: 3099
A permit is needed for any photography, filming and broadcasting (TV andradio) within the Parliamentary estate.
Members may be interviewed for radio, TV or filming purposes in their ownrooms without a permit. If this is not suitable, a limited number of rooms onthe House of Lords part of the Parliamentary estate can be booked for suchpurposes (see pages 27-29). In both cases, Members are responsible forescorting photographers and film crew while they are in the building. Withinthe precincts of the Lords’ part of the Parliamentary estate, applications forpermits should be made to Black Rod’s Office.
Further information
The leaflet Regulations for Photography, Filming (including video recordings),sound recording, painting and sketching and mobile telephones, is availablefrom Black Rod’s Office.
Smoking policy
Smoking is prohibited in all parts of the parliamentary estate occupied by theHouse of Lords except in designated areas in Black Rod’s Garden, StateOfficer’s Court and an area at the end of the Lords Terrace abutting theCommons Terrace.
2120
Admission to Commons debates
Peers’ Gallery
The Peers’ Gallery (24 seats) is reserved for Members and certain seniorofficials of the House.
Distinguished Strangers’ Gallery
This gallery is at the disposal of the Speaker. Peers of Ireland and the eldestchildren of Members are admitted when the list for the gallery is not full, on presentation of some form of identity.
Admission Order Office of the House of Commons
Members who wish to obtain tickets for guests to listen to a debate in theHouse of Commons should apply to the Admission Order Office (3700) or byletter to the Chief Clerk. As much notice as possible should be given to theAdmission Order Office, owing to the great demand for seats and the limitednumber available.
Clock Tower tours
Contact office: Clock Tower bookings tel: 4862 (10.00 am - 4.00 pm) email [email protected]
Further details can be found on the intranet athttp://intranet.parliament.uk/saa/tours/big-ben
Contact Clock Tower bookings to arrange a tour for up to 16 guests. Toursstart at 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 2.30 pm and occasionally at 9.30 am, Mondayto Friday, and take about one hour. Tours are free of charge.
It is the policy of the Serjeant at Arms to obtain information about eachvisitor wishing to tour the Clock Tower. A form detailing the informationrequired will be sent to the person booking the tour.
All guests are the responsibility of the sponsoring Member both prior to andafter visiting the Clock Tower.
23
ACCOMMODATION
AND FACILITIES
22
Members’ Offices
Members’ offices are located in the Palace, Millbank House, 7 Old PalaceYard, 1 The Abbey Garden and Fielden House. Individual offices, and deskspaces in shared offices, are allocated by the parties or the Convenor of theCrossbench Peers. Members wishing to obtain an office or a desk in ashared office should therefore apply to their party Whip or to the Convenor.
Furniture, lighting and heating
Requests for the changing of light bulbs, alterations to heating and minoroffice repairs should be made to the Works helpdesk (4747). Requests forother services, such as furniture, redecoration and office items, should bemade to the Staff Superintendent (3213).
Works of art
Members may request works of art to be hung in their offices, or for worksalready hung to be changed, though few works are held in storage: the greatmajority are on display across the estate. For assistance Members shouldcontact the Curator of Works of Art or his office (0182).
General information about the House’s works of art is available from theCurator, or from the Clerk to the Works of Art Committee (3150, see page 100).
Desks within the Palace
Office space within the Palace is limited, but there are tables and desks foruse by Members in the Royal Gallery, the Library, the Salisbury Room andthe Writing Room.
25
Telephones and messaging services
Contact Offices: Operator tel: 100PICT Helpdesk (for problems with phones) tel: 2001Message Bureau tel: 5353Messaging administrator tel: 5678
Corridor telephones
In addition to their desk telephones, Members may make calls from phones inthe Library Corridor, outside the Table Office, at the northern end of theDivision Lobbies, at Peers’ Entrance and several other locations.
Telephone boxes
There are telephone boxes in the following locations:
• next to the Table Office (map 6, B2)
• at the east end of the Bishops’ corridor (map 6, B4)
• outside the Cholmondeley Room (map 3, B3)
• in the cross corridor off the Committee corridor (map 5, C3).
Pay phone boxes
Two card- or coin-operated boxes are situated by the steps leading from StStephen's Hall to the Principal Floor, West Front (map 6, D2).
Telephone directories
There are sets of telephone directories in the fax and photocopying room justoff Peers’ Lobby and in the Library.
24
Domestic and international calls
Domestic calls from Lords telephones are free. Members with desks maynominate one Lords number to have free international call access by ringingthe Parliamentary ICT Service (tel: 3456) or they may dial 100 from any internaltelephone and ask the operator to connect the call free of charge. Directnumbers for certain international institutions are listed in the back of thetelephone directory.
Telephone message bureau
Calls for Members who cannot be directly contacted are received by theMessage Bureau (tel: 5353), who will take a message. On sitting days,messages for Members will be taken round by Doorkeepers or Attendants andplaced in the Prince's Chamber if undelivered. Copies of all messages areretained in the Message Bureau. At the end of the day, messages not claimedwill be posted to those Members who have given forwarding instructions.Members can also choose to have their messages delivered immediately bypager, fax, short message service (available on mobile phones) or e-mail.Please contact the Messaging Administrator (tel: 5678) for more details.
Voicemail
Voicemail is available for Members both with and without desks on theParliamentary estate. For further information please telephone theParliamentary ICT Service Desk (tel: 2001).
Use of mobile phones
In addition to all bars and restaurants, mobile phones may not be used in:
• the Chamber;
• the Prince’s Chamber and Peers’ Lobby;
• Division Lobbies during Divisions;
• the Moses Room
• the Library, the Salisbury Room and the Writing Room;
• all committee rooms while committees are sitting.
They may be used, with discretion, in all other parts of the House.
27
Pagers
Pagers can be supplied free of charge upon request from the StaffSuperintendent's Office (tel: 3213). Members taking a party whip may alsowish to consult their Whips office.
Fax machines and photocopiers
There are several fax machines and photocopiers for the use of Members,located in facilities rooms throughout the Parliamentary estate. Members mayalso request a “combined” printer, which also acts as a photocopier, scannerand fax. Contact PICT (tel: 2001).
Members may also arrange for faxes to be sent to the Attendants’ Office offPeers’ Lobby (fax: 020 7219 5979). They will then be dealt with according toMembers’ mail instructions.
The photocopying machines are self-service. When time and manpower permitthe Attendants’ Office will assist Members with photocopying but there is nofacility for bulk photocopying.
In case of difficulty in operating fax machines and photocopiers, including thereplenishment of paper, Members should contact the Attendants in Peers’Lobby (tel: 3366) or the Attendants in 7 Old Palace Yard (tel: 5252), MillbankHouse (tel: 5656) or Fielden House (tel: 3304) or 1 Abbey Gardens (tel: 6770)
Stationery
House of Lords stationery is available in racks in the Royal Gallery, Prince’sChamber, Library and Members’ offices. Limited supplies of stationery for useby Members at home can be obtained from the Attendants’ Office (3366).
Members may obtain postage paid envelopes and postcards for use onParliamentary business from the Printed Paper Office (PPO) (see page 38).
26
Replacement toner cartridges for use in printers issued by the House mayalso be obtained from the PPO.
House of Lords stationery may be used for all correspondence relating to thework of the House, including the work of all-party groups. Stationery may beused for personal correspondence in modest quantities, but it should not beused for circulars, general correspondence (except that of an essentiallyparliamentary nature) or business letters.
A range of routine stationery (biros, notepads etc) is available from theAttendants in the Palace and outbuildings on the Parliamentary estate.
Members may order House of Lords stationery overprinted with their personaldetails by contacting the Attendants off Peers’ lobby (tel: 3366 or 5566).
Consumables
Batteries are available for annunciator remote control units upon request fromthe attendants (tel: 5566).
Committee, conference and interview rooms
Contact Details: Committee room bookings principal attendant tel: 6049email [email protected]
tel: 6049 for all committee, conference and interview room bookings.
There are several rooms across the estate for use by Members. Differentcategories of room – committee rooms, conference rooms and interviewrooms – are available for different purposes.
Details of all room bookings, both for the House of Lords and House ofCommons, are displayed on the electronic signs on Committee Corridor.
Conference rooms
There are a range of conference rooms available in 1 The Abbey Garden,Millbank House and Fielden House, which may be booked through thePrincipal Attendant (tel: 6049). Refreshments may be served in theseconference rooms, but must be arranged by the user of the room andcleaned away by the user after the event.
Television Interview room
The Television Interview room, suitable for small meetings and interviews, islocated on the Cross corridor, First Floor (map 5, C3)
Radio and TV interviews
• Media Room, Millbank House. Booking: Principal Attendant (tel:5656).
• Media Room, 1st floor West Front Corridor (near staircase to StStephen’s Entrance) (map 5, C2). This facility is equipped with TVlighting and is suitable for one-to-one recorded interviews. It is notsuitable for large television crews. Booking: tel: 6049.
• Peers’ Lobby: a recorded interview point for TV and radio broadcasts.Booking: tel: 3099.
In all cases, Members are responsible for escorting interviewers andcrews on and off the premises.
See also Photography, filming, radio and TV interviews on page 21.
29
This information is also accessible under the title “Committee RoomBookings Screen” available through the “What’s On” link on the Lordsintranet homepage.
Committee rooms
There are eight committee rooms:
• seven on the main committee corridor, of which two are currentlyallocated to the Law Lords (map 5, B3)
• The Moses Room (off Peers’ Lobby) (map 6, D2)
• Committee Room G (off Royal Court) (map 3, A3).
Hours of availability: Committee rooms may be booked for meetings heldbetween 10.00 am and 6.00 pm and for meetings that are held, or thatcontinue, after 6.00 pm, subject to the needs of the following day. Committeecorridor staff will not normally be available after 5.00 pm to set up rooms,though after 5.00 pm staff on duty in the Attendants’ Office off Peers’ Lobbywill endeavour to assist whenever possible. Committee rooms are notavailable for general use when both Houses are in recess.
Grand Committees: Grand Committees are normally held in the MosesRoom. These have priority over all other meetings.
Select Committee meetings: Meetings of Select Committees of the Househave priority over other bookings.
Restrictions on use: Annual General Meetings (except for All-PartyParliamentary Groups) and press conferences (except for those given bySelect Committees) may not be held in committee rooms. Members arereminded that they are responsible for, and must be present at, meetingsbooked in their names.
Refreshments: Refreshments may not be served in Committee rooms. (SeeConference rooms below.)
Guests: Guests coming to committee rooms on the main committee corridorand the Moses Room should enter the building via Cromwell GreenEntrance. Guests coming to Committee Room G should use Black Rod’sGarden Entrance.
Additional facilities: When booking rooms, Members may request facilities toshow PowerPoint presentations, videos, and other visual aids (subject toequipment availability).
28
Travel Office
Contact Details: Travel Office Consultants and Foreign Exchange tel: 4232 (map 3, D2)
There is a Travel Office in the basement of the House of Commons, whichMembers can use to make all forms of travel arrangements.
Office hours
Monday 9.30 am – 5.30 pm
Tuesday 9.00 am – 5.30 pm
Wednesday 9.00 am – 6.00 pm
Thursday 9.00 am – 7.00 pm
Friday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Recesses 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Out of hours emergency travel service: 020 8757 9000
Intranet
Further information and links are available on the intranet: click on “TravelOffice” on the list of Parliamentary Quicklinks.
Timetables
Various travel timetables are available at Peers’ Entrance, Prince’s Chamber,the Library and the Attendants’ Office.
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Other rooms for Members
TV room (Committee corridor) (map 5, C3)
There is a TV room in the Committee corridor. This room is only for the useof Members of the House.
Writing room (Principal Floor) (map 6, A4)
The Writing Room is located in the south-east corner of the Principal Floor,near the Lord Speaker’s Office.
Families room (Ground floor, off Peers’ cloakroom) (map 3, B2)
A families room for use by the families of Members is located on the GroundFloor, next to the Peers’ cloakroom. The room contains a hot drinksmachine, newspapers, television, annunciator and a telephone.
Changing rooms
• Male Peers’ changing room, with showers, just off the Peers’ E n t r a n c e(map 3, C2)
• Retiring and changing room with baths and showers for Female Peersup the stairs next to the Bishops’ Bar (map 6, B3).
Towels can be obtained from the Attendants’ Office, Peers’ Lobby.
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Westminster gymnasium
Contact details: Westminster gymnasium tel: 5546
Membership of the Westminster gymnasium is open to Members of theHouse. Facilities include gymnasium (with full range of cardio vascularmachines, weight machines and free weights), sauna, aerobics and otherclasses. Two new expresso bikes are now also installed. Gym staff would bepleased to advise you on equipment and activities available and to receiveyour comments. A joining fee and an annual membership fee are payable.
Hairdressing
Contact details: Salon tel: 3093 Map 3, E3
A unisex hair salon, John Simon, is located on the ground floor in the Houseof Commons.
33
Lockers
There are lockers on the Library corridor, on the Ground Floor West Frontand in the Harcourt corridor, Second Floor. Applications for a locker shouldbe made to Black Rod’s Office (3100).
Cash machines
There are cash machines in the entrance lobby of the Lords’ Bar and RiverRestaurant on the ground floor (map 3, C3). There are also machines in theHouse of Commons, near the Terrace Cafeteria (map 3, D2) and the PostOffice in Portcullis House.
Photo booth
There is a photo booth next to the cash machines in the House ofCommons, near the Terrace Cafeteria (map 3, D2).
Chapel of St Mary Undercroft
The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft is located off Westminster Hall, to theright of the steps leading down from St Stephen’s Entrance (map 3, D2).
A Communion service is held weekly at 12.30 pm each Wednesday wheneither House is sitting. Roman Catholic masses are held periodically, andannounced in the All-Party notices.
Members can use the Chapel for weddings, christenings and other services.Information can be obtained from Black Rod’s Office (3101).
32
Library
The Library is responsible for providing research, reference and bibliographicservices to Members in support of the work of the House. Factual andimpartial answers are provided on a confidential basis to enquiries fromindividual Members.
The main Library is on the Principal Floor, on the river side of the Palace.The Library rooms are shown on map 6, inside the back cover.
There is also a branch library on the ground floor of Millbank House, whichwill remain open until the commencement of building refurbishment works.
Introductory tours of the Library’s holdings and briefings on the range ofonline resources available can be arranged on request (tel: 3240).
Contact details
Library email [email protected], fax: 6396
Loans tel: 5242
Millbank House Library tel: 8609 fax: 8607
Press cuttings tel: 5433, 6757
Quick reference enquiries tel: 5433, 5242
Research enquiries tel: 6185
Library administration tel: 3240
Opening times
Sitting days:Monday to Thursday 9.30 am to 6.00 pm or the rising of the
House, whichever is later
Friday 9.30 am to 4.30 pm or the rising of the House,whichever is later
Non-sitting days:Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
The Security Officer on duty in the Peers’ Lobby can open the Library forMembers at times when the Library is not staffed, if required.
34 35
LIBRARY AND OTHER
INFORMATION SERVICES
The Library offers fortnightly email alerts, which provide a highly selectiverange of substantive press and journal articles under the broad headings ofhome affairs, constitutional affairs and international affairs.
Other material
Besides research and reference services, the Library also assists Membersthrough the provision of books for loan from its own collections and fromother libraries, material from press and media resources, access to personalcomputers, photocopying facilities and stationery:
• a wide range of national and regional newspapers and periodicals isdisplayed in the Brougham Room and in the Millbank House Library
• specific press reports can be produced by Library staff from databasesearches as appropriate. Current and past press notices issued bygovernment departments can be made available
• videos of recent news broadcasts and current affairs programmes canusually be obtained, subject to the willingness of the originators
• the Library’s intranet pages (click on “House of Lords Library” on theHouse of Lords Intranet homepage) provide access to legal and otherreference material, the Library’s catalogue and the catalogues of otherlibraries, links to electronic versions of several journal titles, lists ofdeposited papers, and the texts of Lords Library Notes
• photocopiers are available for the use of Members in the Queen’s Roomand in the Millbank House Library
• personal computers are available for use by Members both in the mainLibrary and the Millbank House Library.
Members’ staff
Members who wish their research assistants to use the main Library inperson are asked to make a written application to the Librarian in respect ofthe individual concerned. All staff may use the Library in Millbank House.
Further information
For further information see the Library Guide and Brief Guide to Services,available from the Brougham Room.
37
Library services
Enquiries
Members may make enquiries in person, or by telephone, email or fax.Quick reference and shorter fact-finding enquiries are dealt with by the teamof Assistant Librarians, of whom at least two are on duty at the Queen’sRoom enquiry desk and one in the Millbank House Library.
Enquiries requiring a written response or detailed investigation are handledby the research team. Library staff are present in the Queen’s Room (B4,map 6) and in the Millbank House Library to discuss enquiries withMembers.
Assistance can be provided in various ways:
• the provision of short notes or summaries on specific issues
• the compilation of information packages containing appropriate extractsfrom Hansard, journals, press and other documentation
• investigation and fact-finding
• oral or written answers to quick reference enquiries
• internet or database searches
• the provision of press cuttings
• the identification and production of documents, including papers placedin the Library by government departments, statutes and legal material
• the production of references to Hansard and other Parliamentarymaterial.
• introduction, training and briefings on Library services for all Members.
Library notes and email alerts
Lords Library Notes, summarising developments on bills and on topics ofparticular relevance to the House, are published from time to time, and aremade available to all Members. The Library also notifies all interestedMembers of the subjects of research papers prepared by the House ofCommons Library and by the Parliamentary Office of Science andTechnology (page 48).
36
Members’ entitlement to papers
Members are entitled to one copy only of printed papers. The onlyexception is that, if they have spoken in a debate, they may collect up to sixcopies of the Lords’ Hansard in which their speech is reported.
Members are entitled to obtain free of charge from the PPO such currentparliamentary papers and other publications as they clearly require to dischargetheir parliamentary duties. These papers are listed in the Companion.
Members may also obtain free of charge government publications up to a pricelimit (currently £50). Papers above the price limit are normally available in theLibrary. Any publication referred to in a motion or a question for short debatewhich has been set down on the Order Paper for a named day will be suppliedfree to any Member on request.
Other publications will also be supplied free of charge, provided that they arerequired for the discharge of the Member’s current Parliamentary duties and donot come into the following categories: historical, technical, scientific orreference.
Ordering of papers
Papers may be ordered from the PPO by letter, by telephone, in person or byuse of printed demand forms (see below). For reasons of economy, Membersare asked to collect papers in person from the PPO whenever possible. Manyparliamentary papers are also available on the internet (www.parliament.uk)and the Parliamentary intranet.
PPO order forms
• Blue form, for placing standing orders for the receipt of Parliamentarypapers.
• Pink form, listing current Command Papers, Lords’ Bills, Select Committeereports, etc., which is sent once a week to Members on request.
• Yellow form, listing current European Union papers, such as the OfficialJournal, proposals for European legislation and consultative documents,together with related government memoranda, which is sent fortnightly toMembers on request.
39
Parliamentary papers: the Printed PaperOffice
The Printed Paper Office (PPO) is responsible for the provision anddistribution to Members of those printed papers which are required by them for the proper discharge of their Parliamentary duties. It is situatedin the corridor linking the Prince’s Chamber with the West Front (map 6, B2).
Contact details
Enquiries and requests for papers tel: 3037 or 3038Clerk of the Printed Paper Office tel: 1246Deputy Head of the PPO tel: 4254Requests for European Community papers tel: 3775PPO fax: 4939PPO email: [email protected]
Opening times
From Until
Monday to Thursday,sitting days 8.30 am 6.00 pm, if House has risen by
5.30 pm30 minutes after rising of House, up to7.30 pm10 minutes after rising of House, up to10.00 pmAt rising of House, after 10.00 pm
Friday,not in recess 8.30 am 5.00 pm, or rising of House if later
Monday to Friday,in recess 9.30 am 4.30 pm
38
41
Information Office
The Information Office is based on the First Floor, West Front Corridor (map 5,B2). It provides factual information and statistics for the public, press andMembers on:
• the role and work of the House
• membership and attendance
• business and proceedings of the House.
The Office is staffed between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm (5.00 pm on Fridays).
Contact details
Director of Public Information tel: 0671PA / Office Manager tel: 3327Outreach tel: 4375Publications and Publicity Officer tel: 2552Press and Publicity Officer (Committees) tel: 8659Press and Publicity Officer (Chamber) tel: 6640Web Editor tel: 5317
Enquiry service
tel: 3107fax: 0620email [email protected]
Enquiry service hours
The telephone enquiry service operates as follows:
Sitting days:Monday to Thursday 10.00 am to 6.00 pmFriday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Recesses:Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Papers ordered on these forms are sent to Members’ private addresses,either by the PPO or direct from The Stationery Office (TSO).
Members may also order through the PPO any government publicationswhich are not available to them free of charge, and also extra copies ofpapers above their basic entitlement. These papers are sent to Members byTSO together with an invoice for payment.
Addresses
Members may specify up to two addresses to which different parliamentarypapers are to be sent. Members should notify the PPO of any change ofaddress for delivery of publications. Those with addresses in the Londonpostal area may, if they wish, receive the House of Lords Business andLords’ Hansard for any day on the following morning by special service. Allother papers are dispatched by first class mail. No charge is made toMembers for the postage of papers sent to them from TSO or from the PPOunder the official frank.
Members who wish occasionally to send their copy of the Lords’ Hansard toa third party may ask the PPO to frank the envelope, provided the Memberhas addressed and sealed it.
40
Parliamentary Archives
Contact details: Parliamentary Archives tel: 2333 fax: 2570email [email protected](map 5, A2)Website: www.parliament.uk/archives
The Archives and the Search Room
The Parliamentary Archives provides a records management and archiveservice to both Houses and makes records accessible to the public. Theoffice adjoins the Victoria Tower repository on the first and second floors ofthe Palace. The Search Room, where records may be consulted byMembers, staff and the public, is on the second floor and is open Mondaysto Fridays from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm throughout the year. It is accessed viathe Sovereign’s lift from the ground floor (near the Pass Office at BlackRod’s Garden Entrance) or the Principal Floor (outside the Robing Roomand the Royal Gallery). Requests for a tour of the archives should bedirected to the Clerk of the Parliamentary Archives.
The archives of both Houses date from 1497 to the present. These includeoriginal Acts, journals, papers laid before Parliament, judicial records andplans deposited in connection with private Bills. In addition there are recordsthat have accumulated within Parliament, such as those of the Lord GreatChamberlain, and many plans and drawings relating to the Palace ofWestminster. Among special deposits of private political and parliamentarypapers are those of Beaverbrook, Lloyd George and Bonar Law. The officeis pleased to advise Members about the care of their own papers includingtheir conservation.
The office is pleased to assist Members in answering enquiries about therecords and history of Parliament. Displays of records are provided on theVisitor Route, and the office seeks to promote the archives as a coreresource of Parliament for study, learning and leisure.
Publications and other materials
The office produces a range of material aimed at explaining the work of theHouse to the public including:
• a series of Briefing Papers on the role and work of the House
• The House of Lords: A brief guide — an eight page illustrated leafletgiven to visitors to the Galleries and for general use, available in eight languages and in braille (on loan)
• The Work of the House of Lords — an illustrated booklet explaining thework of the House in the context of legislation and scrutiny in the mostrecent complete session
• PowerPoint/Overhead slides — cover the work of the House and includeup-to-date statistics and explanatory diagrams. 48 hours notice isrequired for acetates.
Also, in conjunction with the Journal Office, it produces for Members:
• Who does What in the House of Lords — a list of all Members,committees, committee Members, frontbench Members etc, revisedseveral times a year
• Procedure and Practice — a pocket guide for Members on key featuresof procedure, based on the Companion.
These guides for Members are available from the PPO.
Parliamentary Education Service
Jointly funded by both Houses, the Parliamentary Education Serviceprovides services and resources for schools, teachers and students(including videos, DVDs and information packs) on behalf of both Houses.
tel: 2105fax: 0818email [email protected]
42 43
Annunciator channels
No. Channel No. Channel
1 BBC 1 13 Sky Sports 2
2 BBC 2 14 Radio 4
3 ITV 1 15 BBC News 24
4 Channel 4 16 Westminster Hall(Commons)
5 Channel 5 17 BBC Parliament
6 Commons Chamber 18 Sky Sports 3
7 Commons annunciator 19 BBC World
8 Lords Chamber 20 Radio 3
9 Lords annunciator 21 Radio 5 Live
10 Sky News 22 Welsh Assembly
11 CNN News 23 Grand Committee (Lords)
12 Sky sports 1 24 EuroNews
Faults
To report faults, ring Engineers Control Helpdesk on 4747.
Freedom of information and data protection
The Freedom of Information Officer, based in the Parliamentary Archives, isresponsible for maintaining and revising policies for ensuring compliance bythe House of Lords’ administration with the Freedom of Information and DataProtection Acts, and for providing advice about their particular application(0100).
Annunciators
From 12.00 noon on sitting days (or earlier if the House sits in the morning)the annunciator screens display a summary of the day’s business. A scrollstrip at the bottom of the screen is sometimes used to convey extrainformation, such as the subject and time of a statement, or a division in theHouse of Commons.
When the House is sitting the screens display the subject of business in theHouse, the name of the Member speaking and, in the bottom left hand corner,the time at which the current speech began. For oral questions andamendments, the time shown in the left hand corner is the time at which thatpiece of business began. If a Grand Committee is sitting, its details aredisplayed in the bottom half of the screen.
When there is a division in the House a red bell will flash on the screen foreight minutes accompanied for the first few minutes by a ringing sound, nomatter which channel is selected (provided that the volume of the set is turnedup).
44 45
Parliament’s intranet: http://intranet.parliament.uk
This site is only available to those with access to the parliamentary network.The intranet homepage contains recent news, notices and future events in thecentre, and navigational links around the site to the left.
This handbook is also available on the intranet.
House of Lords intranet: http://intranet.parliament.uk/lords
This site can be accessed from the parliamentary intranet homepage byclicking on the ‘All other services’ link under House of Lords on the left-handnavigation or by going through the A to Z Index. The House of Lords intranet isa private resource available only to those with access to the parliamentarynetwork. It provides a channel for communication across the House byproviding one place for updating and giving out new information.
The Lords intranet homepage contains links to the areas of most interest toMembers of the Lords and their staff, including domestic and selectcommittees, room bookings and car parking, the Lords Library and restaurantmenus.
Internet and intranet
Parliament website: www.parliament.uk
Parliament’s website is accessible to Members and staff of both Houses and thegeneral public.
Content on the website includes:
• Hansard for both Houses
• Bills and amendments currently before Parliament
• Select Committee reports and other information
• Frequently asked questions and directories of MPs and Members
House of Lords editorial content is the responsibility of the Web Editor, based inthe House of Lords Information Office, who maintains standards set down inagreed editorial guidelines.
The Video and Audio webcasting service www.parliamentlive.tv carries full videoand audio coverage of the Chambers in both the Commons and the Lords and ofselected sittings in Westminster Hall. There is live coverage of SelectCommittees, and audio coverage of virtually all committee meetings in public, aswell as an archive of up to 28 days and captioning to identify speakers in majorparliamentary debates.
Related websites
The Government Whip’s office website: www.lordswhips.org.uk It includes lists of speakers and groupings of amendments.
The Crossbench peers website: www.crossbenchpeers.org.uk46 47
The dropdown menu bars at the top of the page allow users to find their wayto all Lords information available on the intranet, divided into Business of theHouse, Service for Members, Facilities and Lords Staff Information.
The House of Lords Quicklinks to the left, link to frequently used websites orservices including Divisions Analysis, Lords Hansard, Dods and theGovernment Whips Office.
Parliamentary Office of Science andTechnology (POST)
Contact details: POST tel: 2840Director tel: 2848email [email protected]
POST is an official office of the two Houses of Parliament, charged withproviding balanced and objective analysis of science and technology basedissues of relevance to Parliament. The POST Board, composed of Membersof both Houses, together with four leading external scientists, sets thesubject areas for POST’s enquiries. The Board welcomes suggestions fromindividual Members of the House of Lords on topics for studies. These maybe made directly to one of the Lords Board members (Lord Winston (Vice-Chairman), Baroness Greenfield, Lord Oxburgh and Lord Sutherland ofHoundwood) or to the Director. POST also regularly assists SelectCommittees in both Houses in carrying out their enquiries.
POST produces short overviews and more detailed reports, which are free toMembers of both Houses. Members of the House of Lords may requestPOST to supply them with a copy of all publications. Alternatively, they canbe obtained in the House of Lords Library and via the Parliamentary website(www.parliament.uk/post). This POST website also includes links to otherscience and technology related sites. Reports are also publicly available.Members of the public can purchase them from the ParliamentaryBookshop.
48 49
Computer services
Computer Services
The following information details the various computer services available.Information can also be found on the Parliamentary Intranet or via the PICTService Desk. If you wish to discuss your requirements with the MembersComputing Officer you may contact Loraine Midda on extension 5048.
The Parliamentary ICT Service (PICT) offers full support to Members via aService Desk and face-to-face training in specialist training rooms, as well asa face-to-face ‘drop-in’ service. If you need assistance on any computerrelated matter, you are welcome to contact the PICT Desk.
PICT Service Desk tel: 2001email: [email protected]
• For problems with email and internet, logging on to the Parliamentary Network (including forgotten passwords), and remote access.
• For advice or training about Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, access orremote access services to Parliament.
• For problems with computer hardware loaned to Members by PICT.
• To arrange to receive computer equipment on loan from the House.
• For problems or advice in the use or supply of mobile computing PDAssupplied by PICT.
Service Desk opening hours
During term timeMonday – Thursday 8.30 am – 8.00 pmFriday 8.30 am – 6.00 pm
During recessesMonday – Friday 8.30 am – 6.00 pm
WeekendsSaturday and Sunday 11.00 am – 3.00 pm
The Service Desk is closed on English bank holidays.50
IT SERVICES
51
Additional open sessions are held in the e-Library in Portcullis House; onTuesdays from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm and Thursdays 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.No appointments are necessary and Members can use the opportunity toorganise training appointments or request help in IT-related matters.
Computer equipment and software
PICT aims to provide comprehensive and up-to-date computer facilities toassist Members in their Parliamentary duties. Members’ computer entitlement,for use in Members’ Parliamentary office, is as follows:
• A desktop computer
• A printer, which may be a fast mono laser printer or a slower colour“combined” printer which also acts as a photocopier, scanner and fax
and, for use at any location:
• A laptop computer
• A portable colour printer
Two portable laptop computers may be provided as an alternative to onelaptop and one desktop to Members who demonstrate that this would bettermeet their Parliamentary needs.
Each PC is equipped with the standard software used by Parliament, namelythe Microsoft Office suite, which includes Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPointand Access. The e-mail software in use in Parliament is Microsoft Outlookwhich is fully integrated with the Microsoft Office software and also providesdiary scheduling facilities and the ability to maintain a personal register of"contacts".
Additional hardware
A catalogue outlining hardware which can be purchased in addition to thatprovided centrally is available on the Intranet. Please note: Purchasedhardware is supplied on the strict understanding that it may only be used forParliamentary purposes. PCs will be loaded with a standard software suite ofOperating System (OS) Office plus various antivirus and connectivity softwarewhich is licensed to Parliament. When a Member ceases to be a Member forany reason this must be removed and the machine returned to the OSsupplied on the manufacturer’s CD delivered with the PC.
Or
If you prefer a face to face meeting, you can ‘drop-in’ at your convenience toreceive immediate attention from our team of analysts, engineers, trainers andcustomer service professionals at one of the PICT Local offices. PICT Local staffwill be able to:• Resolve your technical issues
• Discuss your ICT needs
• Take your orders for ICT equipment (e.g. laptops, printers, monitors, PDAs)
• Supply you with ICT accessories (e.g. remote access tokens)
• Show you our fully functional ‘model office’, where you can try out equipmentbefore making your final choice (e.g. printers, PDAs, laptops, monitors,desktop PCs).
There are two PICT Local offices:• Room 335, 2 Millbank
• Room 112, Norman Shaw South
Open: 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday-Thursday, 9.30am-12.00 Friday
Training
The PICT training team offers advice and full training on Microsoft Office(Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) products at all levels. A three-monthrolling schedule of courses and their content, plus all of the other servicesoffered, can be found on the Intranet under ‘PICT training’ on the A-Z menu.Training is also offered on a customised, one-to-one, personal coaching basis asappropriate and where resources allow. Training is available on request forremote access and new computer equipment familiarisation. For furtherinformation, email [email protected] or tel: 8284.
For any help on computer-related matters contact the PICT Service Desk (tel:2001). If the concern is of a “how do I?” nature this will be passed on to thePICT training team.
During term time, weekly drop-in sessions are held for Members onWednesdays in the House of Lords Library between 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm.
52 53
Mobile Computing
Mobile Computing provides remote access to parliamentary email, calendar,contacts, and other functions, using a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) thatsynchronises automatically over the mobile telephone network. PICT supports arange of devices to meet different ways of working. For further details visit PICTGeneral Information on the A-Z menu > Services for Lords Members>MobileComputing.
Members wishing to receive a computer, printer or PDA on loan from the Houseshould request an application form from the PICT Service Desk or PICT generalinformation on the A-Z menu>services for Lords Members>PC equipment..When receiving IT equipment on loan from the House, Members will be requiredto sign an undertaking that they will not load other software or connect otherhardware without written approval from the Members’ Computing Officer so thatsecurity is not compromised and potential conflicts with standard equipment andsoftware can be avoided.
Wireless access to the Parliamentary Network
Wireless access to the Parliamentary Network is available in Wi-Fi Zones withinthe Parliamentary Estate, at the locations listed below and where you see thissign:
For wireless access, you need a PICT-supplied Dell laptop, with the wirelessfunctionality enabled. When requesting a new laptop please indicate if you wishto use the Wireless functionality as it is not automatically configured. It isnecessary for an engineer to configure your laptop to connect securely to thewireless network. The configuration will take approximately 10 minutes and canbe carried out by PICT Service Engineers while you wait in one of the PICTLocal offices (Room 112, Norman Shaw South, or Room 335, 2 Millbank).Alternatively, please phone the PICT Service Desk (tel: 2001) to request anengineer visit to your office.
Wireless access is available in the following locations:
Palace: Committee Corridor, Lords Library Reading Rooms and the Royal GalleryNorman Shaw North: room 112 (PICT Local)2 Millbank: room 335 (PICT Local)Portcullis House: Atrium
Parliamentary accounts and e-mail
Members applying for an official computer are automatically provided with aParliamentary user account, including a Parliamentary e-mail address.Members with staff, or who wish to only access Parliament via remote access(see below) on a private computer, will need to apply for an account.Application forms are obtainable from the Parliamentary ICT Service Desk.Members’ staff are required to hold their own individual user accounts but mayaccess the e-mail systems of their employers using the delegated mailboxfacility.
Members who prefer to use a private e-mail system may still hold aParliamentary e-mail address and have their Parliamentary e-mailautomatically redirected. This is subject to certain conditions and limitations.The Parliamentary ICT Service Desk will be able to provide assistance.
Remote access
Members who wish to access the internet or Parliament from outsideParliament may do so. To accommodate differing needs there are four forms ofremote access:
• ADSL broadband: Members who borrow an official laptop computer areeligible to apply for a connection to the internet and Parliament via a highspeed “ADSL Broadband” line installed in their homes. There is no chargefor this service. This is known as “ISP/VPN”. ISP refers to the fact thatMembers will receive one free Internet connection from Parliament’s ownInternet Service Provider. This connection can be used to access theinternet without first needing to connect to Parliament. Members who thenwish to connect to Parliament can do so via the internet using a “virtualprivate network” (VPN) connection.
• SSL/VPN: Members who wish to work from any computer or any internetconnection – including commercial offices, airports, cafés, etc – are nowable to use the new SSL service. This allows access to Parliamentary e-mail and the intranet and related Parliamentary information systems fromany mainstream Internet browser, including non-Windows computers andprivate computers. For security reasons, Members are issued with a key-sized “SSL token” which generates an additional password. There is no54 55
• Writing Room (Principal Floor, Palace): a desktop PC is available whereMembers may collect their e-mails and use the Internet/Intranet facilities.There are also power and data points available for laptop use. Abroadband line is available for use by Members who do not wish to useofficial computers.
• Library (Palace): there are PCs for use by Members in the Queen’s Roomand in the Truro Room.
• Library (Millbank House): there are PCs for use by Members in the Libraryon the ground floor.
charge for access to the service, although Members will need to provideor pay for the cost of the internet connection.
• Dial-up (Citrix): this is provided within the UK (free of charge via a 0800number) and abroad (where it is chargeable to the Member by thetelephone provider) from any computer equipped with a modem and whichis running the Windows 2000 operating system or later. It works from anymainstream telephone system. The necessary software is supplied asstandard on all official laptop computers. A CD with installation andoperational documentation can be provided for Members wishing to useprivate computers.
• Mobile computing: this provides remote access to Parliamentary e-mail,calendar, contacts, and other functions using a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA) or SmartPhone that synchronises automatically over the mobiletelephone network. In contrast to synchronising Outlook via a cableconnected to a PC, the information on the device is kept up to date whileon the move, and is updated as frequently as the user requires(immediately, every 10 minutes, hourly etc) providing there is an adequatemobile telephone signal. The PDAs are multi-functional devices, includingmobile Word and Excel, a web browser, and other software. The deviceswork as mobile phones and include predictive text messaging.
For further details, contact the Parliamentary ICT Service Desk tel: 2001.
Computers available for Members’ use
• PCs in Millbank House: there are two fully equipped computer trainingrooms in Room 42 on the ground floor. In addition, Room 362 on the thirdfloor of Millbank House is a multimedia room with a PC and otherequipment available.
• Or between 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday-Thursday, 9.30am-12.00 Friday at PICT Local situated at Room 335, Millbank House, where the display equipment is also available for Members use.
• Fielden House: each floor has a dedicated facilities room equipped with acomputer with CD read/write capability, flatbed scanner, colour printer, andassociated software. In addition each room has a shredder, fax machineand photocopier.
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Contact details
Attendants’ Office tel: 3366Post Office helpline tel: 4639Printed Paper Office tel: 3037, 3960
Receiving mail
Members may choose from four basic mail delivery options:
• mail can be collected from pigeon holes in the Attendants’ Office offPeers’ Lobby
• mail can be forwarded to any external address
• mail can be delivered to a desk within the Parliamentary estate
• on sitting days, mail can be placed in the letter rack in the Prince’sChamber for collection by the Member.
Different instructions may be given for weekends or for recesses.
Members should give their mail delivery instructions in writing to theAttendants’ Office off Peers’ Lobby (tel: 3366). Forms to change Members’mail delivery instructions are held by the attendants.
Address for Parliamentary papers and Lords’ notices
Members should give their instructions for the receipt of Parliamentary andother papers, such as Hansard and House of Lords Business, with aforwarding address if appropriate, to the Printed Paper Office (tel: 3960) (seepage 40).
The Printed Paper Office is also responsible for the distribution of Lords’Notices (i.e. official notices sent to every Member of the House). Notices arenormally sent out by first-class mail direct from The Stationery Office. Urgentnotices, for example for the recall of the House during a recess, are also sentby e-mail by the PPO to those Members who request it. E-mail addresses forthis purpose should be notified to [email protected].
58 59
POST AND MEMBERS’ ADDRESSES
• for issuing circulars of any description (i.e.. an unsolicited letter sent inidentical or near identical form to a number of addresses);
• for internal mail (mail within the Parliamentary estate); or
• for overseas mail (including Europe and the Republic of Ireland).
The following postage-paid envelopes and postcards are currently available:
• C4 envelopes – to take an A4 sheet unfolded (manilla, 1st class)
• C5 envelopes – to take an A4 sheet folded once (manilla, 1st class)
• C6 envelopes – to take an A5 sheet folded once (cream wove, 1st class)
• C6 envelopes – to take an A5 sheet folded once (cream wove, 2nd class)
• DL envelopes – to take an A4 sheet folded twice (cream wove, 1st class)
• DL envelopes – to take an A4 sheet folded twice (cream wove, 2nd class)
• Postcards – plain (1st class)
• Postcards – acknowledgement (2nd class).
Stamp vending machines
There are stamp vending machines in the following locations:
• Central Lobby
• Off the Prince’s Chamber, at the south end of the Not-Contents Lobby
• Just off St Stephen's Hall, within the porch leading to the Lords’ West Frontcorridor
• Millbank House, Ground Floor, outside the Attendants’ Office.
Internal mail
All mail for Members of either House should be addressed to the individualconcerned at the “House of Lords” or “House of Commons”, put in an unstampedenvelope and placed in an Internal post box. Mail will then be delivered accordingto the recipient’s instructions.
Bulk deliveries and circulars
Bulk deliveries of unfranked circulars or letters are not accepted fordistribution to Members as they swamp the system and incur a cost to thetaxpayer if forwarded. Originators, when they can be contacted, are advisedaccordingly by the Attendants’ Office or the Post Office.
Letters from Leaders and Whips
Urgent letters and messages from the Leaders or Whips of all parties may begiven to the Attendants and Doorkeepers, who will do their best to ensuredelivery if the Member is present in the House, or will forward them if theMember has given forwarding instructions. Attendants and Doorkeepersendeavour to deal similarly with all urgent mail.
Sending mail
Postage-paid envelopes and postcards
Postage-paid envelopes and postcards are available from the PPO forMembers’ correspondence on Parliamentary business.
Envelopes and postcards may be collected by Members in person, or byMembers’ staff if authorised in advance by the Member concerned. Thosecollecting envelopes and postcards will be asked to sign for them.
Information on the issuing of postage-paid envelopes and postcards ispublished annually together with information relating to the expenses claimedby each Member.
A maximum of 100 of each type of envelope or postcard may be issued to aMember on any one day. Small quantities (up to 50 in total with a maximumof 10 of each type) may be sent by post to Members’ private addresses onreceipt of a signed order form.
Members are reminded that postage-paid envelopes and postcards may notbe used:
• for correspondence of a business, commercial or personal nature;
• for the correspondence of a parliamentary group which includes personsother than parliamentarians;
• in connection with party political fund-raising or campaigning;60 61
There is also a self-service letter rack in the Prince’s Chamber for thepersonal use of Members wishing to correspond with other Members in theHouse.
Mail for recipients within the Parliamentary estate should be dispatched inthe same way.
Mail for government departments should be marked “IDS” (for InterDespatch Service) and placed unstamped in an Internal post box.
Prepaid envelopes should not be used for internal or IDS mail items.
Mail collections
Internal and external mail boxes are emptied regularly throughout the day.
There is a 7.00 pm final collection on sitting days from the following externalpost boxes. Mail posted there will be delivered the following day whereverpossible.
• Central Lobby • Star Chamber Court
• Post Office Counter • Ground floor Millbank House
• Peers’ Lobby • Ground floor 1 The Abbey Garden
• Peers’ Entrance • Ground floor 7 Old Palace Yard
• Prince’s Chamber • Ground floor Fielden House
• Printed Paper Office
Post Offices
Central Lobby Post Office tel: 4638 (map 6, D3)
During sitting periods: Monday to Thursday, 8.00 am to the later of 10.30 pmor the rise of either House; Friday, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
During recess periods: Monday to Friday, 8.00 am until 5.00 pm
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House of Commons Members’ Lobby Post Office
tel: 4639 (map 4, D2)
Opening Hours as for the Central Lobby Post Office, and also Saturdays:8.00 am to 4.00 pm
Portcullis House Post Office tel: 2555
During sitting periods: Monday to Thursday, 9.00 am to 6.00 pm; Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
During recess periods: Monday to Friday, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.
This office may also be closed for two weeks over the Christmas and NewYear period and for a number of weeks after any Dissolution of Parliamentand before a General Election.
Services
In addition to dealing with Parliamentary mail, all Post offices are able tocarry out the full range of counter transactions usually found at High StreetPost Offices, for example:
• Bureau de Change (including travellers’ cheques)
• Travel insurance
• Passport checking service
• Car tax renewal
• Concessionary travel permits (“Freedom Passes”)
• Fishing and game licences
• Mobile phone top-ups
• Post Office financial services including; credit cards, car and home insurance, and savings products
Commercial activities
The House of Lords may not be used by Members as a business addressand the name may not be used by Members for the promotion of anycommercial activity.
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CATERING FACILITIES
Refreshment Department
Refreshment Department, general enquiries tel: 4222
Catering facilities are provided ‘in-House’ by the House of Lords RefreshmentDepartment. The Department operates nine outlets, ranging from cafeteriasto formal dining, including a gift shop. The Department also offers facilities forprivate functions. Details of the Department’s services and menus areavailable under the Food and drink section on the House of Lords intranet.Certain House of Commons catering facilities are also available for the use ofMembers as indicated below. Further details about House of Commonsfacilities are available via the Commons refreshment link on the Food anddrink intranet site.
The tables on pages 70 to 75 set out opening times and access to theDepartment’s facilities and those in the House of Commons available toMembers. The Department is usually closed over the Christmas, Easter andWhitsun recesses and in August and operates a reduced service during otherrecess periods. Information about recess services is announced shortlybefore the start of the recess period and is available on the intranet.
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Locations
• Guest Room Bar: Principal Floor, off Library corridor (map 6, C4)
• Gift Shop: Ground Floor, South-East Corner, (map 3, B3) access viaLibrary corridor staircases.
Peers’ Guest Dining Room
Information and bookings tel: 3395 or 4222
Location: Principal Floor, off Library corridor (map 6, C4)
Barry Room
Information and bookings tel: 5966
Location: Ground Floor, (map 3, B2) access via stairs off Bishops’ corridor.
Cafeterias
Members may use the staff cafeterias. However, space in the cafeterias islimited and they are intended primarily for the use of staff who have onlyvery limited access to the other facilities. No booking is required butsandwiches may be pre-ordered (River Restaurant tel: 2319; Millbank Housecafeteria tel: 8790).
Locations
• River Restaurant: Ground Floor, (map 3, B3) access via Law Lords’corridor stairs.
• Millbank House cafeteria: Second Floor, Millbank House.
Members only facilities
Four areas are restricted to Members and certain staff. These are the LongTables in the Peers’ Dining Room and in the Barry Room, which offer waiterservice full meals (and in the case of the Dining Room, afternoon tea), theHome Room, which offers grills and light meals, and the Bishops’ Bar, whichalso has a small snack area. Each of these facilities operates on the basis ofa “turn up and be served” policy.
Locations
• Peers’ Dining Room and Bishops’ Bar: Principal Floor, off Bishops’corridor (map 6, B3)
• Barry Room: Ground Floor, (map 3, B2) access via stairs off Bishops’corridor
• Home Room: Ground Floor, South-East corner, (map 3, B3) access viaLibrary corridor.
Guest facilities
Members may entertain guests in the Peers’ Dining Room (Guest Side) andthe Guest Room (also open for tea and coffee), and the Barry Room.Members’ spouses may also entertain guests in the Barry Room for lunchand in the Dining Room for tea. Space in these outlets is limited and bookingis recommended at all times for the Dining Room and Barry Room. Amaximum of five guests are allowed in the Dining Room and Guest Roomand six in the Barry Room.
Guests may use the Gift Shop.
Members may also use certain Commons facilities to entertain guests (seepages 73 to 75).
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Private parties and functions
All parties held at the House of Lords are private parties. The presence of aMember is required for any function to take place. Parties may not be usedfor public relations, advertising or commercial business, although functionsrelated to charities are permitted as long as no collections of funds are madeduring the course of the event. It is implicit in these rules that a Member whosponsors a function for an organisation must have the name of thatorganisation in mind at the time of making the preliminary reservation andmust not accept any fee for any function of which he/she is the host.
Members may use the function suites and the Dining Room on non-sitting days for private parties and functions, catering from 12 to amaximum of 350. These suites are much in demand and early booking isessential. The booking period opens in March for parties taking place in thefollowing January to December. Members’ personal, family or anniversaryparties may be pre-booked outside the booking period and priority is also given in the first two weeks of the booking period to such parties. Both the Attlee Room and Reid Room operate a short noticebooking facility, under which one night per week will be held back forbooking not more than six weeks ahead. Detailed rules about the booking of function suites are set out in the Guidance for Parties,available on the Food and Drink intranet site or from the Banqueting Office.
Banqueting Manager: tel: 0679Information and bookings tel: 3356email [email protected]
Location: Ground Floor, entrance via the archway to Black Rod’s Garden
Payment
All bills should be settled immediately. The Department does not offer creditfacilities. Members should note that a £10 administration charge may belevied on bills which have not been settled at the end of the month.Members sponsoring functions should ensure that the invoice is paid in fullwithin 30 days.
All major credit and debit cards are accepted in all outlets other than in thecafeterias and bars.
Gratuities and service charges
No service charges apply in Members’ facilities.
Gratuities are not expected at the Long Tables, Home Room or Bishops’ Bar.In the Peers’ Guest Dining Room, Barry Room and Guest Room Bar tippingis left to individual discretion, though a discretionary service charge of 10%is added to bills for tables of six or more.
A 12.5% service charge is added to all function bills.
Dress
In the Peers’ Dining and Guest Dining Rooms, the Guest Room Bar and theBarry Room, men are required to wear a jacket and tie. Children should beappropriately dressed.
Mobile phones
The use of mobile phones is prohibited in all bars and restaurants.
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7372
7574
Members’ expenses
Contact office: Members’ Expenses Section tel: 6096 fax: 2369 email [email protected]: Room 645, Sixth Floor, Millbank House
This chapter contains information provided in the January 2007 edition of theQuick Guide to the Members’ Reimbursement Allowances Scheme. The QuickGuide is printed on the reverse of claim forms, and it is updated regularly toreflect changes in allowances etc. Full details of the scheme are set out in the“General Guide”, which is available in the Printed Paper Office and which canalso be found on the House of Lords intranet under Offices & Administration,Expenses and Finance, Members’ Services.
Members are encouraged to contact the Members’ Expenses Section forgeneral assistance, or to discuss any particular points that arise from theirclaims.
Members who do not receive a salary as a Minister, Office Holder or Lord ofAppeal in Ordinary are entitled to recover the costs of travel, subsistence andoffice costs incurred in connection with their parliamentary duties, as set outbelow.
Night subsistence – an allowance for accommodation expenses in Londonfor nights spent away from a Member’s only or main residence when attendingsittings of the House:
• for expenses of overnight accommodation in London; or
• as a contribution towards the costs of maintaining a second residence in London in connection with their parliamentary duties.
Claims can only be made in respect of days of attendance, up to a daily limit of£165.50 (from 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008).
Day subsistence and incidental travel – an allowance to cover suchitems as meals and incidental travel (e.g. short distance journeys within a fivemile radius of Westminster, taxi fares, tolls and car parking charges) notseparately recoverable. Claims can only be made in respect of days ofattendance, up to a daily limit of £82.50 (from 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008).
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ALLOWANCES
(1)
(2)
Travelling expenses – for journeys between a Member’s main place ofresidence in the United Kingdom and London by:
• any public railway, sea, air or bus service;
• private car (at the rate of 40p per mile up to 10,000 miles and 25p per mile thereafter);
• motorcycle (at the rate of 24p per mile); and
• bicycle (at the rate of 20p per mile).
Members who wish to claim any of the expenses detailed above should completeand sign a claim form and forward it as soon as convenient after the end of eachmonth, or period of claim, to the Members’ Expenses Section. Claims are notadmissible retrospectively for more than three months prior to the month in whichthe claim is made. Members are encouraged to use the Members’ travel creditcard when booking official ticketed parliamentary travel. Use of the card is subjectto certain conditions about verification of the credit card statement.
Members who choose not to use the Members’ travel card when booking ticketedtravel will be required to provide vouchers if the cost of a return journey exceeds£100.
Language training expenses – the cost of Foreign & Commonwealth Officelanguage classes (tel: 020 7008 0321) may be recovered. Members will berequired to confirm full attendance (of a registration and 10 consultations) beforereimbursement may be made.
Other expenses – Members may also claim reimbursement for expensesincurred in respect of:
• spouse, civil partner and children’s travel (limits apply);
• as an official representative of the House, travel on UK parliamentary business; and
• travel to EU institutions.
Details of these schemes can be found in the ‘General Guide’ (see above). Travelon the latter two schemes is subject to prior approval by the Clerk of theParliaments if it is to be eligible for reimbursement. If in doubt please contact theMembers’ Expenses Section.
In the autumn of each year, the House publishes information
relating to the expenses claimed by each Member for the
preceding financial year.
Office costs – an allowance for secretarial help, research assistance andwhere appropriate, providing and maintaining necessary equipment and forcertain additional expenses, including telephone, internet, computer and IT costs(e.g. domestic costs, purchase of books and periodicals and professionalsubscription charges in respect of parliamentary duties). Claims can only bemade in respect of
• days of attendance,
• an additional 40 days when Members do not attend, and
• whilst away from the House on certain specified official business (see paragraph(5) below), up to a daily limit of £71.50 (from 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008).
Night subsistence, day subsistence and office costs – claims inexcess of the daily limit may be met so long as these claims are offset by otherclaims, within the same category, lower than the daily limit and the total claim forthe period of the claim does not exceed the product of multiplying the daily limitby the number of days for which expenses can be claimed in that category.
Accommodation maintenance allowance for second homes –Members participating in certain categories of official business away fromWestminster who maintain a second residence in London for the purpose ofattending sittings of the House may claim up to £110.50 per night (from 1 August2007 to 31 July 2008) for the continuing accommodation costs of maintaining thatsecond residence. Participation in the following gives rise to this entitlement:
• as a member of a House of Lords’ select committee;
• as part of an official parliamentary delegation to the parliamentary assemblies of the Western European Union, the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Tr e a t yOrganisation, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe;
• as an official representative of the House;
• as a member of the British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body;
• as a delegate to the spring and autumn conferences of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association;
• as a Member of the Intelligence and Security Committee; or
• as a trustee of the Parliamentary Contributory Pensions Fund or House of Commons Members’ Fund.
Members may also claim for office costs incurred while on such business, subjectto the maximum daily rate set out at paragraph (3), and are covered by theHouse of Lords insurance policy.78 79
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
How to get procedural information
This chapter provides brief practical information about the business of theHouse.
The authoritative guide to House of Lords’ procedure is the Companion tothe Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lordscommonly known as the Companion (current edition 2007).
There is also a pocket guide to Procedure and Practice.
Both are available from the Printed Paper Office. The Companion is alsoavailable on the intranet at:www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldcomp/compso.htm
The clerks may always be consulted about the work of the House. A clerk isavailable in the Table Office to give general procedural advice. The offices ofthe Clerk of the Parliaments and the Clerk Assistant are on the PrincipalFloor, to the right of Peers’ staircase.
The Procedure Committee is responsible for considering the procedures ofthe House and any proposed alterations to those procedures (see page102).
Sitting times
This table shows the usual start time on each sitting day, and the guidelinerising times agreed by the House. It is emphasised that the House may sitbeyond the guideline rising times shown. The start times may also vary, forexample on the last sitting day before a recess when the House usually sitsat 11.00 am, beginning with oral questions. The House of Lords Businessand Forthcoming Business (see the following section) show when specificsittings are scheduled to begin. The Government Whips’ Office providesestimates of rising times at www.lordswhips.org.uk.
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BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
• notices of committee sittings;
• minutes of proceedings for the previous day;
• the judicial business;
• minutes of proceedings for the previous day; and
• details of divisions the previous day, including lists of Members voting;
The House of Lords Business is published after each day’s business and isavailable from the Printed Paper Office (PPO) and on the intranet andinternet.
The Official Report (Hansard)
The Official Report (Hansard) is the verbatim record of speeches made inthe House and Grand Committee. Further information is given on pages 92-93.
Forthcoming business
Forthcoming business is an unofficial summary of future business, especiallyGovernment business, issued each sitting week by the Government Whips’Office. It normally contains the business for the forthcoming week, with timeestimates, plus a provisional outline of business for a further two weeks.New editions are usually issued on Tuesday evenings, and are availablefrom the PPO and the Whips’ offices. Members may request a regularelectronic copy by e-mail by e-mailing [email protected].
For queries about forthcoming business contact the Government Whips’Office (tel: 3131).
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Usual start Guideline
of sitting rising time
Monday 2.30 pm by 10.00 pm
Tuesday 2.30 pm by 10.00 pm
Wednesday 3.00 pm by 10.00 pm
Thursday 11.00 am by 7.00 pm
Friday 10.00 am by 3.00 pm
Documents
Order Paper
The Order Paper is the agenda for the day’s business. On each sitting day, itis available from:
• Printed Paper Office
• Peers’ Entrance
• Prince’s Chamber
• Peers’ Lobby.
House of Lords Business
House of Lords Business shows future business to be taken in the House,so far as arranged. It also contains:
• business of which notice has been given but for which no date has been decided;
• a list of questions for written answer tabled that day and tables showing written questions which remain unanswered after 14 days;
• lists of bills, measures, affirmative and hybrid instruments, legislative andregulatory reform orders, human rights remedial orders and specialprocedure orders in progress, showing the stage reached by each andthe date of the next proceedings, if known;
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Signing up to speak in a debate
Contact office: Government Whips’ Office tel: 3131 (map 6, C2)
For most debates a list of speakers is drawn up by the Government Whips’Office.
How to sign up
Members wishing to speak in a debate should check with the GovernmentWhips’ Office whether there is a speakers’ list and, if there is one, sign up byone of the following methods:
• by phone (3131)
• in person in the Government Whips’ Office (Principal Floor, West Frontcorridor)
• online at www.lordswhips.org.uk (following registration with theGovernment Whips‘ Office).
Deadlines
• For debates on days when House sits before 12.00 noon — speakers’lists close at 6.00 pm the day before
• For debates on all other days — speakers’ lists close at 12.00 noon onthe day.
How to get lists
The final speakers’ list is drawn up after consultation with the usualchannels, and is made available in the Whips’ offices, Printed Paper Office,Prince’s Chamber and Peers’ Lobby on the day of the debate. It is also available online at www.lordswhips.org.uk.
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Tabling questions and motions
Contact office: Table Office tel: 3036, 5218 fax: 3887email [email protected](map 6, B2)
Guidance about questions and motions can be found in the Companion. TheTable Office can provide further advice. It is open from 10.00 am until therising of the House every sitting day.
Oral and written questions and all motions may be tabled in one of thefollowing ways:
• by hand to the Table Office (just off the Prince’s Chamber: see map insideback cover)
• by fax to 020 7219 3887
• by e-mail to [email protected] (provided that the Member haspreviously instructed the Table Office to accept questions by e-mail).
Unless they are sent by e-mail, questions and motions must be signed by theMember in whose name they are tabled.
Arrangements for oral questions
Usual No. Usual No. of Topical ballot Topical ballot
start length topicals opens drawn
Mon 2.30 pm 4 30 mins 0
Tues 2.30 pm 4 30 mins 1 previous Weds, Friday 2.00 pmafter questions
Wed 3.00 pm 4 30 mins 1 previous Thurs, Monday 2.00 pm3.00 pm
Thurs 11.00 am 4 30 mins 1 previous Friday, Tuesday 2.00 pm3.00 pm
Friday No oral questions
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Unless they are sent by e-mail, amendments must be signed by the Memberin whose name they are tabled.
Groupings
Groupings of amendments are dealt with by the Government Whips’ Office(3131), which will seek to contact the first-named Members on amendmentsbefore the start of the relevant stage in order to agree groupings. If Membershave any particular requests about the grouping of their amendments, theyshould contact that office before 9.30 am on the day the stage is to be taken(when the sitting begins before 12.00 noon), or before 12.00 noon on theday the stage is taken (when the sitting begins after 12.00 noon). For furtherinformation, see the Companion.
Interests (financial, personal)
Registrar of Lords’ Interests: tel: 3120 email [email protected]
The Registrar is based in Room 18, 2nd floor, West Front Law Lords’corridor in the Palace (take the lift facing the Government Chief Whip’sOffice on the Principal Floor and go to Judicial Office, 2nd Floor, West Front).
The House’s Code of Conduct requires all Members of the House who arenot on leave of absence to register all relevant interests, both financial andnon-financial. The Registrar of Lords’ Interests provides confidential adviceto individual Members of the House about the interpretation of the Code, andmaintains the register. The Code is printed in Appendix A to the Companion,and at the front of the register.
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Bills and amendments
Contact office: Public Bill Office tel: 3153 fax: 5933 email [email protected]
(map 5, B2)
Government Whips’ Office (groupings) tel: 3131
Information about bills and amendments
Information about bills and amendments is available from the followingsources:
• Printed Paper Office: can provide the text of all current bills andamendments
• The Companion
• Three leaflets are available from the Public Bill Office:
– Taking part in public bills in the House of Lords
– Promoting a private member’s bill in the House of Lords
– Guide to House of Lords amendment style.
• Parliament website: contains a range of guidance notes, statistics andbill and amendment text: www.parliament.uk/business/bills_andlegislation.cfm
• How a Bill becomes an Act (Information Office briefing paper)
For advice, contact the Public Bill Office.
Tabling amendments
Amendments may be tabled with the Public Bill Office from 10.00 am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday when the House is sitting, and 10.00 am to 4.00 pmon Friday, and during recesses.
Amendments may be tabled:
• by hand in the Public Bill Office (first floor, West Front corridor)
• by fax to 020 7219 5933
• by e-mail to [email protected] (only by prior arrangement with thePublic Bill Office).86
Compilation of register
The register is compiled from questionnaires sent to Members when theyfirst become Members and annually thereafter. The register is publishedannually in printed form. It sets out in alphabetical order the name of everyMember and their relevant interests. If a Member has no relevant interests toregister, an entry is made stating the fact. Members must inform theRegistrar of any changes that need to be made to their entries from time totime.
Up-to-date versions of register
Since the printed document goes out of date quickly, an up-to-date versionof the register is published on the Parliament website each week when theHouse is sitting. Record copies of the up-to-date register may be consultedby Members at the Table of the House and in the Library, the Table Officeand the Registrar’s Office.
Sub-Committee on Lords’ interests
The operation of the register is overseen by the Sub-Committee of theCommittee for Privileges on Lords’ Interests, and the Registrar consults theSub-Committee when necessary.
88 89
Select Committees
Contact office: Committee Office tel: 5791, 3150 email: [email protected]
The House appoints select committees to perform various functions on itsbehalf.
Domestic committees
The ‘domestic’ committees deal with administrative and procedural mattersrelating to the House of Lords (see page 99). The ‘legislative’ committeescontribute in various ways to the House’s scrutiny of legislation.
Investigative committees
‘Investigative’ select committees (which include the committees on theConstitution, Economic Affairs, European Union, Communications, Scienceand Technology, and any Committee established ad hoc) examine publicpolicy issues and publish reports on them. The European Union Committeeand the Science and Technology Committee conduct much of their workthrough sub-committees appointed by the parent committee. TheGovernment must respond in writing to every committee report, and many ofthe reports are debated in the Chamber.
Lords Committees usually investigate cross-cutting issues, while mostCommons select committees focus on the work of a particular Governmentdepartment.
Legislative committees
All Members may take part in the scrutiny of Bills in Committee of the WholeHouse and Grand Committee, but certain committees also scrutinise primarylegislation:
• the Constitution Committee
• the Delegated Powers Committee; and
• the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
Further information
• The parliamentary website: contains a wide range of information aboutcommittees, including details of current inquiries, oral and written evidencereceived, and the texts of committee reports dating back to 1997. Contactdetails are also given for committee staff, who are available to assistMembers of the House. www.parliament.uk/business/committees.cfm
• Who Does What in the Lords: lists all committees and their Members.Available from the Printed Paper Office.
• Weekly Bulletin: lists forthcoming meetings. Available on the parliamentaryintranet and from the Printed Paper Office or via e-mail (tel: 2940 or email:[email protected] be put on the mailing list).
• Committee reports: available from the Printed Paper Office.
• Companion: contains further information about the various selectcommittees; how they are appointed and how they operate.
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In addition, the sub-committee of the Economic Affairs Committeespecifically considers the Finance Bill.
Secondary legislation (orders and regulations made by statutory instrument)is considered by the select committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments(policy significance) and by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments(legal and drafting aspects).
Committees are also established to consider draft bills, often jointly with theHouse of Commons. These pre-legislative scrutiny committees operate likethe investigative committees listed above.
Members of the House also sit on the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
The Liaison Committee co-ordinates committee activity, and considersrequests for new select committees (see page 100).
Membership
New Members of committees are usually proposed by the Whips of eachparty and the Convenor, officially nominated by the Committee of Selection(see page 101), and formally appointed by the House. Any Member wishingto serve on a committee should therefore make their interest known to theirChief Whip or the Convenor, and to the Chairman or Clerk of the committeeconcerned.
Members of sub-committees are appointed by the parent committee, so anyMember wishing to serve on a sub-committee of the European Union orScience and Technology committees should approach the Chairman or Clerkof the committee direct.
Members should be aware that the time commitment involved in committeework (including both attendance at meetings and reading of papers) can besubstantial.
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Hansard, the Official Report
Office tel: 3031 email [email protected]
Location: 3rd Floor, West Front, access via staircase near the Moses Room
Editor of Debates: tel: 3397 email [email protected]
The Official Report, also known as Hansard, is a full report of proceedings inthe Chamber and in Grand Committees. It also contains Written MinisterialStatements and Answers to Written Questions. It is published as a Daily Partby The Stationery Office. A weekly edition is also published. Bound Volumescovering three or four weeks, including an index, are also produced whenthe final proof reading is complete. Members can obtain paper copies bysubscription (by arrangement), or from the Printed Paper Office. Hansardcan also be accessed on the intranet, and on the internet at:www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pahansard/htm.
Terms of reference
Members' speeches are reported in accordance with the terms of referencein Erskine May:
“a full report, in the first person, of all speakers alike, a full report being definedas one ‘which, though not strictly verbatim, is substantially the verbatim report,with repetitions and redundancies omitted and with obvious mistakes corrected,but which on the other hand leaves out nothing that adds to the meaning of thespeech or illustrates the argument’” .
Hansard is a substantially verbatim report of proceedings in the House ofLords. However, a significant element of impartial, objective editorialjudgment is necessary to achieve our objective of making it a complete,coherent, accurate and readable account. To ensure consistency, we alsogenerally insist on the application of our own house style for issues such ascapitalisation, italics and punctuation.
Accuracy: speaking notes, quotations and queries
Hansard prides itself on its accuracy as a report of proceedings, as a source ofinformation and as an historical document. In the interests of accuracy, we willoften send requests via the Doorkeepers asking for speaking notes, quotationsand answers to queries. To ensure that we meet our tight production deadlines,please respond to these requests promptly. Since the report is produced by ateam, please be tolerant of duplicated requests. All notes will be returned byinternal mail. Advance copies of speech notes are greatly appreciated and are,of course, checked against delivery.
Checking the transcript
Members and civil servants in Ministers’ private offices or departments arewelcome to check the transcripts of their own contributions before they are sentto the printer. A draft version is usually available in the Hansard office (3rd Floor,West Front) about half an hour after the speech was made. Because of theneed to observe tight deadlines, the final text is sent to our publication unitsapproximately two hours after that. The text is then available on the “Today inthe Lords” website, which can be found at:www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldtoday/home.htm.Members should not attempt to alter the sense of words spoken by them indebate; nor should Members make amendments of substance if they have beencorrectly reported. Any suggested corrections are judged against the terms ofreference as set out in Erskine May and the Companion.
Mistakes
Members who wish to submit corrections to be considered for inclusion in theBound Volume must do so by the date printed inside the cover of the Daily Part,which is currently 14 days after the date of publication. Corrections may besubmitted in writing, by telephone or by e-mail. In the case of serious errors,corrections can be made to the electronic version more immediately.
Publication times
Daily Parts are available from 8.30 am the following working day from thePrinted Paper Office and from 9.00 am on the internet. If the House sits after2.30 am, a cut-off time on material published may be imposed. The remainingbusiness from that sitting will appear in the next Daily Part and a photocopy ofthe text to be printed will be available in the Library.
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Broadcasting of proceedings
Contact offices: Director of Parliamentary Broadcasting tel: 5848, 5849 (policy)Parliamentary Recording Unit tel: 5511, 5512 (tape archives)
Archive
Proceedings in both Chambers, in the Commons’ Westminster Hall and in somecommittees are recorded. The resulting video archive is managed by theParliamentary Recording Unit (PRU), which is based in 7 Millbank. Members maylisten to, or view, tapes of proceedings in either House. Members may alsopurchase videotapes, audiotapes, DVDs and videoprints taken from the coverageof proceedings (prices available on request). Extracts from the debates can alsobe supplied online in a number of electronic formats. The PRU can be contactedon 5511/5512.
Broadcasting
Proceedings in both Chambers are broadcast live throughout the Parliamentaryestate via the annunciators. The Lords is shown on Channel 8, Grand Committeeson channel 23, the Commons on Channel 6 and Westminster Hall on Channel 16.(The other Channels are listed on page 45).
Webcasting
Coverage of proceedings in both Chambers, as well as coverage of all committeeswhich are meeting in public, is broadcast live over the internet atwww.parliamentlive.tv where proceedings can also be accessed through an on-demand archive for the following 28 days.
Information Committee
The Information Committee has responsibility for supervising the arrangements for,and dealing with any problems or complaints arising out of, the televising andsound broadcasting of the proceedings of the House and its committees (see page99).
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DOMESTIC COMMITTEES
AND ADMINISTRATION
The full membership of each committee described here can be found in thebooklet Who Does What in the House of Lords, which is updated regularlyand is available from the Printed Paper Office.
House Committee
Chairman: The Lord Speaker (Baroness Hayman) tel: 6444Clerk: tel: 6644
The House Committee is the principal supervisory body for the House ofLords Administration. Its terms of reference are:
“To set the policy framework for the administration of the House and toprovide non-executive guidance to the Management Board; to approvethe House’s strategic, business and financial plans, to agree the annualestimates and supplementary estimates; to supervise the arrangementsrelating to Members’ expenses; and to approve the House of Lordsannual report.”
Agendas, minutes and papers for House Committee meetings are availableon the intranet and in the Library.
The House Committee is chaired by the Lord Speaker. Its Members includethe Chairman of Committees, the Leaders of the major parties, theConvenor of the Crossbench peers and backbench Members.
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The domestic committees
There are four “domestic committees,” which provide a forum for Membersof the House to make their views known on important aspects of internaladministration. Their main task is advisory and all four committees workwithin the strategic framework and financial limits approved by the HouseCommittee. Final decisions on issues of strategic importance, particularly ifthere are financial implications, rest with the House Committee. The fourdomestic committees are:
Administration and Works Committee
Chairman: Lord Brabazon of Tara tel: 6796Clerk: tel: 3736
Considers administrative services (for example, the provision of printedpapers or postal services), works, including works related to security, as wellas the overall provision of accommodation (though the distribution ofindividual rooms to Members is handled by the Usual Channels). Black Rodhas day-to-day responsibility for security, works and accommodation.
Agendas and Minutes are available on the intranet and in the Library.
Information Committee
Chairman: Lord Renton of Mount Harry tel: 3308Clerk: tel: 3154
email [email protected]
Considers information and communications services including Libraryservices, information technology and systems, telecommunications,information services for Members and the public, broadcasting and the workof the Parliamentary Archives.
Agendas and Minutes are available on the intranet and in the Library.
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Refreshment Committee
Chairman: Lord Brabazon of Tara tel: 6796Clerk: tel: 3185
Oversees the work of the Refreshment Department, including such mattersas menus and opening hours.
Works of Art Committee
Chairman: Viscount Falkland tel: 3230Clerk: tel: 3150Curator of Works of Art: tel: 0182
Considers matters relating to works of art and the artistic heritage within theHouse, such as the re-hanging of pictures and conservation issues. It makesuse of an annual grant to acquire works of art for the House’s permanentcollection and chooses the designs for the House of Lords’ Christmas Cards.
Other administrative committees
Liaison Committee
Chairman: Lord Brabazon of Tara tel: 6796Clerk: tel: 3130
Reviews and co-ordinates committee activity, considering requests for new select committees and allocating resources within the overall budgetfor committee activity which has been agreed by the House Committee.
Members who wish to put forward a proposal for a new Committee should,in the first instance, write to the Chairman of Committees briefly setting outthe reasons for establishing such a Committee. In proposals for ad hocCommittees, it is also useful to draw attention to any time constraints, and tostate how long the inquiry might take. If Members wish to show cross-partysupport, the letter may be signed by one representative of each of the
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parties; the Liaison Committee has deprecated the practice of collecting longlists of signatures in support of proposals.
When the matter is discussed at the Liaison Committee, the proposer of anynew Committee, together with one or two supporters, is usually invited toattend the meeting to support his or her case.
Committee of Selection
Chairman: Lord Brabazon of Tara tel: 6796Clerk: tel: 3736
Recommends the membership of select committees. The membership ofeach committee is then decided by the House as a whole.
Members who wish to be considered for membership of Committees should,in the first instance, approach their Whip or the Convenor of the CrossbenchPeers as appropriate.
Committee for Privileges
Chairman: Lord Brabazon of Tara tel: 6796Clerk: tel: 8796
Considers questions relating to (a) the privileges of the House and (b) claimsof peerage. For the past 100 years or so, many more matters have arisenunder (b) than (a). The Committee for Privileges appoints a Sub-Committeeon Lords’ Interests to consider matters relating to the Code of Conduct andthe Register of Interests (see page 87-88).
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Procedure Committee
Chairman: Lord Brabazon of Tara tel: 6796Clerk: tel: 8796
Reviews the procedures of the House and the Standing Orders. TheCommittee approves the text of the Companion to the Standing Orders,which is updated every few years.
Audit Committee
Chairman: Lord BestSecretary: tel: 4536
The Audit Committee examines and oversees audit and accountabilityarrangements in the House of Lords Administration. It has six members,including two external members, and reports annually to the HouseCommittee.
Management Board
Chairman: Michael Pownall tel: 3181Secretary: tel: 4536 email [email protected]
The Management Board is a team of senior officials who provide strategicdecision making and management for the Administration. As well asdrawing up strategic and business plans, the Board works with the HouseCommittee providing advice and responding to directions from Members.The members of the Board cover seven functions of the administration:parliamentary services, corporate services, information services, financialresources, human resources, support services and information andcommunication technology services.
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Administrative offices
Parliamentary, committee and judicial services
Public and Private Bill Office
Public Bill Office: tel: 3153fax: 5933email [email protected]
Clerk of Public Bills: tel: 3152
Private Bill Office: tel: 3231fax: 2571email [email protected]
Clerk of Private Bills: tel: 3231
Delegated Legislation Office: tel: 8821fax: 2571email [email protected]
Supports the House’s consideration of public and private legislation and ofdelegated legislation.
Official Report (Hansard) (3rd Floor, West Front)
tel: 3031, 3032fax: 3824email [email protected]
Editor of Debates tel: 3397
Provides a verbatim transcript of the day’s proceedings.
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Journal Office (map 5, B2-C2)
tel: 0440, 3325fax: 0620email [email protected]
Clerk of the Journals tel: 8796
Provides procedural advice; maintains records on membership and businessof the House; and compiles the Journals of the House (the authoritativerecord of proceedings).
Table Office (map 6, B2)
tel: 3036, 5218fax: 3887email [email protected]
Clerk Assistant tel: 3151
Produces the formal records of the House’s business and decisions (OrderPaper and Minutes of Proceedings) and facilitates the future proceedings ofthe House. Provides procedural advice to Members.
Printed Paper Office (map 6, B2)
tel: 3037, 3038fax: 4939email [email protected]
Clerk of the Printed Paper Office tel: 1246
Provides Parliamentary papers and other documents needed by Members todischarge their Parliamentary duties.
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Committee Office (in Millbank House)
tel: 5791email [email protected]
Clerk of Committees tel: 3130
Supports the select committees of the House with procedural and legaladvice and the administrative support necessary to fulfil the committees’orders of reference.
Overseas Office
tel: 3218
Clerk of the Overseas Office tel: 3187
Facilitates contacts between the House of Lords and overseas parliamentsand international assemblies; and provides advice and support to Lords,including the Lord Speaker, when attending conferences overseas.
Judicial Office (2nd Floor, West Front)
tel: 3111fax: 2476
Clerk of the Judicial Office and Registrar of Lords’ Interests tel: 3106email (interests only): [email protected]
Enables the House of Lords to carry out its judicial functions by providingadministrative advice and support to the Lords of Appeal; the Registrar ofLords’ Interests compiles, publishes and keeps up to date the Register ofLords’ Interests.
The House’s judicial function will be transferred to a new supreme court inautumn 2009.
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Information Services
Library (map 6, A4-C4)
tel: 5242, 5433fax: 6396email [email protected]
Librarian and Director of Information Services tel: 3357
Provides research, information and bibliographic services to support thelegislative, deliberative and judicial functions of the House.
Information Office (map 5, B2-C2)
tel: 3107fax: 0620email [email protected]
Director of Public Information tel: 0671
The Information Office produces and disseminates publications about therole and work of the House; manages contacts with the press and media;and provides an enquiry service for Members of the House, the public, pressand staff.
Parliamentary Archives (2nd Floor, Palace)
tel: 2333fax: 2570email [email protected]
Clerk of the Records tel: 3071
Freedom of Information Officer tel: 0100
Provides an archive service and a records management service for eachHouse of Parliament, and makes records accessible to the public throughthe Search Room. See page 43 for more details. The Freedom ofInformation Officer, based in the Parliamentary Archives, carriesresponsibility for maintaining policies to ensure that the House of Lords iscompliant with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data ProtectionAct 1998.
PICT
Parliamentary ICT Service Desk: tel: 2001email: [email protected]
Members’ Computing Officer tel: 5048
PICT provides the necessary support and expertise to enable the House, itsMembers and staff to take full advantage of information technology indischarging their functions. PICT supports the development of strategicapproaches to allow full use of technological advances.
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Support services
Black Rod’s Department
Black Rod tel: 3100fax: 2500
Responsible for security in the Palace (in co-ordination with House ofCommons’ authorities); controlling access to the House and its Chamber(including booking in Members’ guests to the Galleries and Below Bar);licensing media activities and controlling their access; accommodation(including the booking of Committee and Meeting Rooms); provision of alldomestic services and facilities (except those provided by the RefreshmentDepartment); and for the planning, supervision and control of the Worksprogramme and budget. Black Rod is responsible for organising allceremonial and State Ceremonial events within the Palace and for the dailyadministration of Her Majesty’s residual estate at Westminster (this includesthe Robing Room, the Royal Gallery, Westminster Hall and the Chapel of StMary Undercroft).
Finance Department
Finance Director tel: 6219
Finance Department Enquiries:
Head of Finance tel: 8681Members’ Expenses tel: 6096General enquiries tel: 3322fax: 8647 email: [email protected]
Head of Finance tel: 3322
The Finance Director is responsible for financial policy and ensuring thatappropriate financial resources are made available for the House’srequirements. The Finance Department provides a range of payments andaccounting services for the House, administers the Peers’ ReimbursementAllowance Scheme and pays staff salaries.
Human Resources Office
tel: 3185fax: 4868email [email protected]
Head of Human Resources tel: 3186
Provides a personnel service for all House of Lords’ employees (i.e. notMembers’ staff). The responsibilities of the Office include recruitment of staff,maintenance of the pay and grading systems and other conditions of service, pay negotiation and authorisation, occupational health, safety andwelfare, and superannuation.
Refreshment Department
tel: 4222, 4223
Head of Catering Services tel: 4222
Responsible for the provision of catering facilities to Members and theirguests, staff and Counsel. It also provides a private function service toMembers, and retails House of Lords’ gifts and souvenirs. See pages 65 to72 for more details.
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Feedback from Members
The procedure set out below, which has been agreed by the HouseCommittee, is intended to enable Members to comment on the quality of theservices provided for them or, if necessary, to make a formal complaint. Theprocedure is not intended to replace informal communications, for examplethrough the usual channels, but to provide an additional means ofcommunication between Members and the administration.
The aim of the House of Lords administration is to enable the House and itsMembers to carry out their parliamentary and judicial functions fully andeffectively. The administration is committed to provide effective andresponsive services for the House and its Members, and to developinitiatives to improve those services. The administration is guided by thefollowing core values:
• respect for the constitutional importance and dignity of Parliament
• professional excellence
• honesty, impartiality and integrity
• openness and accountability
• obtaining value for money
• fairness and respect for all staff.
Comments and complaints from Members are an important source ofinformation for maintaining and improving standards of service. Complaintsfrom Members enable areas of concern to be identified and improved for thefuture. Compliments help to reinforce good practice and motivate staff.
Complaints
Initial contacts
Most comments or complaints from Members will be dealt with quickly andefficiently if they are raised directly with the member of staff concerned.
If you are not satisfied with the response then you are recommended tospeak to the head of the relevant office or department.
Where a problem remains unresolved, you may wish to make a formalcomplaint.
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How to make a complaint
A formal complaint should be made in writing or by e-mail to the ReadingClerk, who has responsibility for Corporate Services([email protected]). Please provide as much relevant informationas possible so that your complaint can be dealt with promptly.
How your complaint will be handled
The Reading Clerk will undertake an investigation of your complaint, whichmay include contacting you to seek additional information or to discuss thecomplaint with you. He will aim to reply to your complaint within five sittingdays. Where possible his reply will contain a substantive response to thecomplaint and, where appropriate, an explanation of what action will betaken as a result. Where this is not possible, perhaps because furtherinvestigation is necessary, his reply will report on the progress in handlingyour complaint and indicate when a substantive response will be made.
Where appropriate the Clerk of the Parliaments will be informed ofcomplaints and consulted about responses to them.
Scope of complaints
This procedure is intended for complaints where a Member feels that therehas been:
• a failure to implement or follow stated policies or procedures
• undue delay or inefficiency in the provision of a service
• poor quality service.
The procedure is not intended for complaints about the substance of policiesagreed to by the House or by a committee of the House, which should beraised with the Leader of the House or with the chairman of the appropriatecommittee.
Annual reporting
The number of complaints received, and a summary of any actions taken inresponse, will be reported annually to the House Committee.
Compliments
Where a member of staff has given especially good service, feedback isalways welcome and may be given to the Clerk of the Parliaments or anysenior manager.
Treatment of staff
House of Lords staff are expected to treat Members of the House withcourtesy and respect. Members should show the same consideration to allstaff on the Parliamentary estate. Employment regulation and the House’sown equal opportunities and diversity policy require management to takeseriously any complaints from staff of bullying, harassment - including sexualharassment which could include any form of unwelcome attention of asexual nature - or other inappropriate behaviour by anyone at the workplace.Where appropriate the Clerk of the Parliaments will refer any case involvinga Member of the House to the relevant Chief Whip or the Convenor.
Members of the House are responsible for the behaviour of their own staffwithin the Parliamentary estate and their dealings with other Members,Members’ staff, and House of Lords staff.
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Whips’ offices
The Whips’ Office for each party provides many support services for theirMembers, and the office of the Convenor provides similar services forCrossbench Members.
In addition, the Government Whips’ Office has responsibilities to allMembers in matters such as drawing up speakers’ lists (see page 85) andagreeing groupings of amendments (see page 87).
Government Whips’ Office
tel: 3131fax: 6837email: [email protected]
Opposition Whips’ Office
tel: 3236fax: 0304email: [email protected]
Liberal Democrat Whips’ Office
tel: 3114fax: 2377email: [email protected]
Convenor of the Crossbench Peers
tel: 1414fax: 0670email: [email protected]
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Adjournment restaurant (Commons) 75Administration and Works Committee 99Administration of House, diagram 98Allowances 76Amendments 86Annunciators 44Archives, Parliamentary 43, 107Attlee Room 72Audit Committee 102Barry Room 70Bellamy’s restaurant and bar (Commons) 74Bicycle and motorcycle parking 8Bills 86Bishops’ Bar 70Black Rod’s Department 108Broadcasting of proceedings 94Cafeterias 67Car parking 8Cash machines 32Changing rooms 30Chapel of St Mary Undercroft 32Cholmondeley Room 72Clock Tower tours 20Code of Conduct 87Commercial activities 63Committee Office 105Committee rooms 27Committees 89Commons debates, admission for Lords Members 20Complaints and compliments 111Computer helplines 51Computer equipment 52Conference rooms 27Congestion charge 8Consumables 27Convenor of the Crossbench Peers 113Crypt Chapel (Chapel of St Mary Undercroft) 32
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INDEX
115
Information Office 41, 106Interests 87Internet 46Interviews• Regulations 21• Rooms 27Intranet, Lords 46Journal Office 104Jubilee Cafe (Commons) 74Judicial Office 105Language training expenses 79Liaison Committee 100Liberal Democrat Whips’ Office 113Library 35, 106Light bulbs 23Line of Route (visitors’ tours) 17Lockers 32Lords’ Bar 70Lords’ notices 59Lost property 11Mail 59Management Board 102Maps• Map 1 Parliamentary Estate Inside front• Map 2 Public transport 2-3• Map 3 Ground floor of the Palace 120-121• Map 4 Principal floor of the Palace 122-123• Map 5 First floor of the Palace 124-125• Map 6 Principal Floor of the Palace (Lords end) Inside backMedical facilities 12Millbank House cafeteria 71Minute Room (see Table Office)Motions, tabling 84Motorcycle parking 8Nurse 12Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare 12Office services 23Official Report (Hansard) 83, 92, 104Opening times for Parliamentary buildings 6Opposition Whips’ Office 113
Data protection 44Debate restaurant (Commons) 75Debates, admission for guests and family 18Debates: speakers’ lists 85Declaration of interests 87Despatch box coffee bar (Commons) 75Domestic committees 99Education Service, Parliamentary 42E-mail, Parliamentary system 55Emergencies 11Entrances 6Envelopes, postage-paid 60Expenses 77Families room 30Fax machines 26Feedback from Members 110Finance Department 108Finance Director 108Fire 11Forthcoming business 83Freedom of information 44Functions and parties 68Gift Shop 70Government Whips’ Office 113GP service 13Guest room 71Guests 16• Admission to Lords debates 18Gym (Westminster gymnasium) 33Hairdressing 33Hansard (Official Report) 82, 92, 104Health, safety and welfare 12Hereditary Peers excluded from the House 15Home Room 70House Committee 97House of Lords Business 82Human Resources Office 109Information Committee 99 117116
119
Selection, Committee of 101Sitting times 81Smoking policy 21Souvenir shop (Commons) 73Speakers’ lists 85Spouses, Members’ 14Staff, treatment of 112Stamps, vending machines 61State Opening of Parliament 19Stationery 26Strangers’ Dining Room (Commons) 73Subsistence allowances 77Suggestions 110Table Office 104Telephones 24Televisions (annunciators) 44Terrace Cafeteria (Commons) 73Terrace pavilion (Commons) 74Travel Office 31Treatment of staff 112TV room 30Use of mobile phones 25
Visitors’ tours 17
Voicemail 25
Webcasting of proceedings 94
Westminster gymnasium 33
Westminster Hall souvenir kiosk (Commons) 73
Whips’ offices 113
Works of Art Committee 100
Writing room 30
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Order Paper 82Overseas Office 105Pagers 26Parking 8Parliamentary ICT Service 50, 107Parliamentary Education Service 42Parliamentary estate: map Inside frontParliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) 48Parliamentary Papers 38Parliamentary Recording Unit 94Parties and functions 68Passes 9Peers’ Dining Room 72Photo booth 32Photocopiers 26Photography 21Photo-identity passes 9PICT 50, 107Portcullis cafeteria (Commons) 75Post 57Post Offices 60Printed Paper Office 38, 104Privileges, Committee for 101Procedure Committee 102Public Bill Office 103Public transport map 2Questions, tabling 84Refreshment Committee 100Refreshment Department 65, 109Register of interests 87Reid Room 72Retired Bishops 15River Restaurant 71Robes: hire 19Security 10Select committees 89
MAP 1
THE PARLIAMENTARY
ESTATE
