Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether catering and retail staff members of the House of Lords receive the full amount of any "tip" given to them when paid by debit card.

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. The full amount of any tip paid by debit card, or any other form of payment, is distributed amongst Catering and Retail staff, less a deduction for Employer’s National Insurance at the appropriate rate.

Gratuity payments are made to staff via the payroll, therefore a deduction for tax and Employee’s National Insurance is made at the relevant rate.

Any administration charges linked to payments via credit or debit cards are not deducted from the gratuity amount.