Times of Sittings

House of Commons Commission written question – answered at on 13 October 2010.

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Photo of Bernard Jenkin Bernard Jenkin Chair, Public Administration Committee, Chair, Public Administration Committee

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate the House of Commons Commission has made of the additional cost to the House Service of (a) interruption to repairs, maintenance works and refurbishments and (b) other activities undertaken in connection with the sittings from 6 to 16 September 2010.

Photo of Stuart Bell Stuart Bell Labour, Middlesbrough

An early decision was made to adapt the programme of repairs, maintenance works and refurbishments to take account of the shorter summer recess and the September sitting. It is therefore difficult to quantify accurately the additional cost to the House Service of the September sitting. It was determined that it would not be cost effective or realistic to stop work while the House resumed in September and then recommence work during the three weeks of the conference season, because of the requirement for double set up and removal costs, and because the working time would be too short for any meaningful work to be undertaken. The penalty has therefore been of deferred projects rather than increased costs.

The difference in other House Service costs between sitting and non-sitting days is small, as the major costs of accommodation and staffing are not appreciably affected.

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