Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker whether he will publish the Services Committee paper and any supplementary advice or briefing papers regarding the proposal to suspend Parliamentary proceedings in the Chamber on 2 July for a fire drill.

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. The evacuation was a pre-planned fire evacuation exercise. The drill had been approved by the relevant senior stakeholders, including the Lord Speaker, the Clerk of the Parliaments, Black Rod's Department and the party Chief Whips. The Services Committee had not been informed of the drill in advance, but had supported the initiative in previous discussions.