Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will make an estimate of the costs of (a) the two-week parliamentary sitting between the end of summer recess and the start of conference recess and (b) suspending maintenance work across the parliamentary estate during those sittings.

Answered by Nick Smith

The Commission estimates that the cost of the September sitting to the House of Commons Administration is in the region of £180–260k, assuming it comprises eight sitting days. This estimate includes: i. business as usual operations; ii. maintenance costs; and iii. expenditure on capital projects.

i. For business-as-usual operations that support the House, the saving would be estimated at around £95k, if there were no September sitting. This saving is based on overtime payments and broadcasting, plus additional income that could be generated from tours and retail. Some of this, however, would be offset by reduced income in catering and banqueting.

ii. Further savings would likely be achieved by the Parliamentary Maintenance Services Team (PMST) if the House were to not sit in September. Much of PMST’s work occurs outside of the sitting hours of the House at times which typically command a premium for labour. Moving eight days of out-of-hours labour into regular working hours is likely to save the Team about £60k.

iii. Expenditure on capital projects is more difficult to disaggregate. However, it is an observable trend in the House Administration’s outturn figures across previous years that works are, where possible, arranged around the sittings of the House. As with PMST’s work, this arrangement carries a financial premium directly – through overtime payments and nightwork premiums – and indirectly – through more unexpected disruptions, and greater restrictions on works close to the Chamber, particularly if they are noisy. Therefore, for larger construction projects, drawing on costs from recent years and basing it on construction projects within the Palace over eight days in September, the savings to the House would likely be in the region of £25–105k.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times Benjamin Wegg-Prosser has visited the UK embassy in Washington since 10 February 2025.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It is a long-standing practice of successive governments not to comment on private meetings.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times employees of Global Counsel have visited the UK embassy in Washington since 10 February 2025.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It is a long-standing practice of successive governments not to comment on private meetings.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish correspondence between Lord Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney on the former's appointment as the British Ambassador to the United States.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

In line with longstanding process, it would not be appropriate to comment on individual members of staff.

Digital ID

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