Question

To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the impact on revenue of the decision to temporarily close banqueting and other facilities due to covid-19 transmission on the estate.

On Monday 1 November the House of Commons Commission agreed that all events on the estate that do not relate to parliamentary business will be cancelled for the next two weeks, including banqueting events (Member-sponsored and third party), tours and other meetings.

It is not possible to calculate the impact that these short-term closures will have on income because while some bookings may be cancelled completely, others will be rescheduled for future dates. In the latter case, this means that income has simply been deferred rather than lost completely. A short parliamentary recess is scheduled for 10–12 November which will also serve to reduce numbers on the estate and therefore footfall in catering outlets. Any estimates made at this point in time would therefore inevitably be speculative.

Income and expenditure in these areas continue to be closely monitored, as with all House of Commons budgets.