Question

To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reasons security officers in the House of Commons are entitled to a break of two hours and 15 minutes in each eight hour shift; and what assessment the Commission has made of the comparative value for money of such contracts.

House Staff are paid for working hours only, i.e. 36 hours net per week for full time staff. In accordance to their contracts, full-time staff have a one hour unpaid break each day / shift. The rest of the breaks received by the Security staff, which are over and above their contractual arrangements, are a legacy carried over from the Metropolitan Police working practices since 2016. The House is currently in discussion with the union about the introduction of a new roster and rest breaks.