Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answers by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 2 November (HL3271, HL3268, HL3269), how many clerks that undertake duties at the Table of the House are in possession of wigs; and how many new wigs would be required so that all clerks who sit at the Table have one; and what assessment he has made of how many additional clerks may begin duties at the Table in the next 12 months.

The number of clerks actively on the Table duty rota each parliamentary term varies due to a number of factors and it is important to have some flexibility as required to meet the needs of the House. This term there are 12 clerks undertaking duties at the Table. Of these 9 have wigs and 3 do not. It is not possible to predict how many additional clerks may begin or resume duties in the next 12 months but one new Table clerk will join the team in January and they have no wig. Four other Table clerks are not currently active on the rota but may resume duties next year, one of those colleagues has a wig and three do not.