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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 1999
Members present:
Dr Lewis Moonie, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Mr Keith Bradley
Mr Eric Clarke
Mr Thomas McAvoy |
Mr Dennis Turner
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr David Watts |
1. Draft Estimates 2000-2001
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee takes note of the following variations in the figures since the summer PES round, viz: increased savings of £1 million on printing and publishing; security: an additional £1.1 million a year; broadcasting: uncertainty depending on the Westminster Hall experiment; staff for Portcullis House increased; additional (other) staff members (though costs have been reduced); and that Portcullis House: costs are being reduced.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee puts on record the good performance of the Printing and Publishing Management Group.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes the matters of security cost and future planning, staff costs and the link to budgets, the Visitors' Centre, progress and cost of Portcullis House.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that the reserve fund stood at £3.6 million.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes with approval the decrease in contract staff in the House service and welcomes progress on clearing the Works backlog identified by Ibbs in 1990 to the proportion of about two-thirds and that Phase F (new kitchen) of Refreshment Department refurbishment was on course for completion by February.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that costs in damages in the Harmon case involves the need for a supplementary estimate.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee agrees the draft estimates at £148 million for House expenditure in 2000-2001.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Chairman do report the Committee's resolutions to the Commission.—(Mr David Watts.)
[Adjourned till Tuesday 7 December at Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 1999
Members present:
Dr Lewis Moonie, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Sir Sydney Chapman
Mr Eric Clarke
Mr Thomas McAvoy |
Mr Patrick McLoughlin
Mrs Marion Roe
Mr Paul Tyler |
1. Resource Accounting and Budgeting
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee notes that transferring to the new system has proved more expensive than originally estimated, amounting to costs of £129,000 in setting-up RAB and £19,000 per annum in keeping it running, but similar difficulties had been found across Government departments.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that the Refreshment Department Account was to be consolidated into the Administrative Account; a supplementary Estimate would be needed to enable the House to retain the trading account surplus that would otherwise be paid into the Consolidated fund.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee notes the new form of accounts in the operating cost statement including detailed resources by aim and objective.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That a revised version of the ambits and figures be put before it.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That advice be given to the Commission to consider amalgamation of its annual report and accounts.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee agrees to the programme suggested for progress on the introduction of resource budgeting.—(The Chairman.)
2. Project Planning
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee notes that in paragraph 5 of the Paper major programmes are now defined as those with a life cycle costs in excess of £2,500.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned till Tuesday 28 March at Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 28 MARCH 2000
Members present:
Mr Richard Allan
Mr Stuart Bell
Mr Keith Bradley
Sir Sydney Chapman |
Mr Eric Clarke
Mr Thomas McAvoy
Mr Dennis Turner
Mr David Watts |
1. Election of Chairman
Resolved, That Mr Stuart Bell do take the chair of the Committee in place of Dr Lewis Moonie.—(Sir Sydney Chapman.)
2. Any Other Business
Ordered, That consideration of letters from the Chairman of Ways and Means and from the Clerk of the Public Accounts Committee be deferred until the next meeting.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned till Tuesday 11 April at Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 11 APRIL 2000
Members present:
Mr Stuart Bell, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Sir Sydney Chapman
Mr Eric Clarke |
Mr Dennis Turner
Mr David Watts |
1. Portcullis House
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee is of the opinion that having considered the steps taken, including the detailed supervision by the Accommodation and Works Committee and the Official Advisory Board, as well as the production of the initial Bosworth Report, the Northcroft mid term review and bearing in mind that there has been liaison with the Treasury since the beginning of the project, very full supervision, resulting in value for money, has been achieved in connection with the building of Portcullis House.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Chairman replies to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee giving details of the detailed supervision which has been put in place by the House.—(Sir Sydney Chapman.)
2. Digital Broadcasting
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee notes that the Commission has agreed in principle to the proposals on digital broadcasting at an estimate of £1.2 million.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee agrees the principle of the new basis of sharing costs between the House and broadcasters but considers that a business case should be prepared for the project in the usual way.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that Treasury advice is that EU procurement rules applied.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee endorses the scheme subject to the condition that a business case is made out to ensure value for money is being obtained by the proposals being put forward and that the authorities take due cognisance of the application of EU law.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Chairman do report the Resolutions of the Committee to the Commission.—(Sir Sydney Chapman.)
3. Braithwaite Report
Resolved, That the Committee notes a memorandum by the Clerk of the Committee on the Braithwaite Report so far as it affected the Committee.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that the Commission's decision to delay further consideration of the role and composition of Finance and Services until a later stage in the implementation programme.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee welcomes the proposal that Members of the House will be consulted during the course of the implementation plan.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That a further paper from the Clerk on those aspects of the Braithwaite recommendations which can be implemented without Standing Order changes.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned till Tuesday 23 May at Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 23 MAY 2000
Members present:
Mr Stuart Bell, in the Chair
Mr Eric Clarke
Mr Thomas McAvoy |
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Dennis Turner |
1. Private Bill Fees
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee notes the new scale of fees, noting that petitioners' charges were not being increased.—(The Chairman.)
2. Information for the Public
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee notes the paper on Information for the Public and the proposed appointment of a Communications Adviser.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned till Wednesday 14 June at half-past Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE 2000
Members present:
Mr Stuart Bell, in the Chair
Mr Eric Clarke
Mr Thomas McAvoy |
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Dennis Turner |
1. Three Year Plans 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 (PES)
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee welcomes the continued improvement in the presentation of the papers for PES and acknowledges the work of the Board of Management, as well as the Department of Finance and Administration, in improving the efficiency and quality of financial administration in the House.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee notes and welcomes the further one and a half per cent cut proposed by the Board of Management at its last meeting, reducing the increase from the baseline figure for 2001-2002 to 4.5 per cent (from 4.9 per cent).—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes the unavoidable items listed in the financial overview which include costs arising in connection with Portcullis House, capital and staffing, security costs, rent and rate increases, Westminster Hall costs and expenditure arising from the implementation of the Braithwaite proposals, to a grand total of between £11 to £13 million.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That in view of the considerable addition to the baseline figure that this expenditure represents, the Committee concludes that in future years the figures presented in the PES round should reflect clearly differences between optional and unavoidable increases; and that revised baseline figures should be provided in future so that it was clear what real options existed for savings on the administrative side.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that the increase in rates was due to the fact that Portcullis House would not attract transitional relief and that rents (including the rent on Millbank) to be retained for use by House Departments and Members' staff had increased.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That police charging is unsatisfactory and in need of further investigation.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that the implementation of the Braithwaite Report will cost £1.2 million but will lead to more effective financial management.
Resolved, That overall expenditure on Portcullis House is broadly within budget and that additional expenditure had arisen on account of items such as security, health and safety etc.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That expenditure on Portcullis House be restricted to an additional £3 million for the forthcoming financial year with £2 million being put in the central reserve fund (total of £8 million).—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That there should be no deferment of refurbishment of St Stephen's Tower (at a cost of £1.2 million) on the grounds of extreme inconvenience to Members, that there should be no deferment of work on Commons Court (T Block) or the Visitor Centre planned for the Palace of Westminster.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that IT/IS costs, overall, amount to some 5 per cent of the House's budget and considers that this area of expenditure needs continued, close monitoring.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee agrees to the proposals in the paper as modified by the Board of Management and its own decision on the Works programme.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Chairman do report the Committee's resolutions to the Commission.—(Mr Thomas McAvoy.)
[Adjourned till Tuesday 15 November at Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr Stuart Bell, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Sir Sydney Chapman
Mr Eric Clarke |
Mr Patrick McLoughlin
Mr Dennis Turner
Mr David Watts |
1. Draft Estimates
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee notes the savings, totalling £2.7 million from Works expenditure and changes in rents and rates.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That greater expenditure than expected on Portcullis House has fallen into the current financial year; an additional £6.6 million for costs arising from the Harmon case would require a supplementary estimate in the region of £15 million in Spring.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that lessons about procurement handling, tighter project control and management structure has been learnt from the Harmon case and were being put into effect.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes that the overall cost of Portcullis House is likely to be £231 million, considerably below the £250 million projected cost.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee further notes increased running costs for the estate resulting from the expansion of the estate into Portcullis House.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee agrees to await a paper from the Director of Finance and Administration on Information Technology expenditure once progress had been made on developing House strategy in this area and after decisions by the Senior Salaries Review Board which would take account of the forthcoming Report of the Information Select Committee.
Resolved, That the Committee agrees to the draft estimate at £140 million for House expenditure in 2000-2002.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Chairman do report the resolutions of the Committee to the Commission.—(Mr David Watts.)
[Adjourned to a day and time to be decided by the Chairman.
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