Bars

House of Commons Commission written question – answered at on 26 January 2010.

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Photo of Michael Fabricant Michael Fabricant Opposition Whip (Commons)

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010, Official Report, columns 825-26W, on bars,

(1) what the existing provision on the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate is for staff of the House and hon. Members; what the aggregate revenue accrued for Bellamy's Bar, the Astor Suite and the Bellamy's Club Room was in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what estimate the House of Commons Commission has made of the amount of space required to operate a nursery for the children of staff of hon. Members and of the House;

(2) which bars available on the House of Commons estate (a) House of Commons and (b) hon. Members' staff may use.

Photo of Nick Harvey Nick Harvey Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

Bars on the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate currently available to staff of the House (all grades) and Members' staff are:

Bellamy's Bar (Monday to Thursday 12.00 to 23.00 or rise of House, whichever is the earlier, but not before 22.00) with up to two guests.

Moncrieff s Café Bar (Monday to Tuesday 09.00 to 20.00; Wednesday to Thursday 09.00 to 22.00 or rise of House, whichever is the later; Friday 09.00 to 16.00) with up to three guests.

Additionally, senior staff of the House of Commons may use the following bar facilities:

Strangers' Bar (Monday to Wednesday 12.00 to 23.00 or rise of House, whichever is the later; Thursday 12.00 to 22.00; Friday 12.00 to 15.15 or rise of House, whichever is the later). Staff grade A2 and above may take in up to three guests; Staff Grade B may not take in guests.

June to July only: Terrace Pavilion Bar (open 13.00 to 23.00 Monday to Wednesday). Access as for Strangers' Bar.

Pugin Room (bar service open Monday to Tuesday 11.00 to 15.00 and 17.30 to midnight or 15 minutes after the rise of House, whichever is the earlier; Wednesday 11.00 to 15.00 and 17.30 to 23.00; Thursday 11.00 to 15.00 and 17.30 to 22.00; closed Fridays). Open to staff grade A2 and above with up to three guests.

Members and their guests have access to all the bar facilities listed above. Also, the Members' Smoking Room is provided for the exclusive use of Members of Parliament (Monday to Tuesday 14.00 to 17.00 and 18.00 to midnight; Wednesday 14.00 to 17.00 and 18.00 to 23.00; Thursday 13.00 to 17.00 and 18.00 to 19.00; closed Fridays).

The following bars are provided elsewhere on the parliamentary estate for all parliamentary pass holders, including Members, their staff and all staff of the House of Commons:

Sports and Social Club bar 12.00 to 23.00 Monday to Friday (sitting weeks) and at reduced time, depending on the level of trade, during recess.

Lords Bar (Monday to Thursday 10.30 to 21.00; Friday 10.30 to 19.30) with up to two guests.

The aggregate income for Bellamy's Bar, Astor Suite and Bellamy's Club Room was £216,000 in 2008-09, the last full 12-month period for which figures are available. However, given the operating costs of the facility and the expectation that some of the banqueting business will take up spare capacity elsewhere, the overall financial impact of the closure is expected to be minimal.

House of Commons officials consulted with a number of child care experts on space requirements for a nursery which would comply with Ofsted regulations. They advised that the space requirement for children of different ages is as follows: under two years-3.7 sq metres; two years-2.8 sq metres; three to seven years-2.3 sq metres, and in addition certain other facilities need to be provided, such as toilets, a nappy changing area, kitchen, laundry and staff room.

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Annotations

Nick Harvey
Posted on 30 Jan 2010 11:36 am (Report this annotation)

The "Smoking Room" is a bar in the Commons - its name is an accident of history. No smoking is allowed in it, nor anywhere else indoors on the Parliamentary estate.

Nick Harvey MP
House of Commons Commission spokesman