Memorandum from the Transport and General
Workers' Union Parliamentary Staff Branch
1. Our branch is concerned that accommodation
for MPs and their staff should be allocated fairly, on basis of
need. It is understood that Accommodation Whips could use political
criteria for allocation of offices, or that offices could be allocated
on the basis of seniority, rather than the actual needs of the
MP and their staff.
2. It is believed that an audit of all MPs'
offices would show a number that are never used and these could
be reallocated to reduce overcrowding.
3. It is appreciated that the Houses of
Parliament are unusual workplaces, but it is felt that Parliament
should set an example of "best practice" in terms of
health and safety, floor space allocation per MP/member of staff
and windows. It is felt that in this day and age no-one, MP or
staff, should be expected to work in offices without natural light.
4. The issue of the possibility of more
MPs' staff moving to constituency offices was discussed, and our
branch wishes to stress that this should be a political choice
left to the MP rather than dictated by an attempt to reduce the
number of offices used by MPs' and their staff at Westminster.
15 February 2006
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