Memorandum by the House of Commons Whitley
Committee Trade Union Side
The Refreshment Department do an excellent job
in providing food and drink for the many people who work in the
House of Commons, their guests, the press and members of the Civil
Service. The range of food has expanded to cater for different
tastes and dietary requirements. However, there is a huge problem
of overcrowding (which we discuss in points 1 to 7 below) in many
of the House of Commons refreshment facilities, and prices (11
and 12 below) are now getting beyond the reach of some of our
members. Finally we make some ancillary points (13-16). We hope
that you will accept our suggestions.
We have developed this paper as much as possible
in accordance with your Information Notice No 2. If you are taking
oral evidence we would be happy, as on previous occasions, to
expand on it.
1. OUTBUILDINGS
Norman Shaw North and Norman Shaw South:
There is no refreshment facility in these buildings, which
house large numbers of Members' staff. A cafeteria here, similar
to the one in Millbank, would greatly relieve overcrowding elsewhere.
The loft area or covering the courtyard would seem to be possible.
Provision of joint facilities with the Lords
in No 1 Millbank might also be a solution.
2. Terrace Cafeteria: Since the closure
of the Westminster Hall cafeteria, the problem of overcrowding
in the Terrace Cafeteria has worsened substantially. We ask for
the partition in the Terrace Cafeteria to be removed. The Members'
area is often greatly underused and Members have many other facilities
at which to eat, whereas staff in the Palace have the Terrace
Cafeteria only. If it was impossible to abolish the Members' area,
then we would suggest replacing the permanent partition with lighter
screens, which the staff would move each day to deal with anticipated
demand. For instance, on sitting Fridays, the Members' area is
generally empty and the staff area grossly overcrowded.
3. Terrace Cafeteria layout: The
hot drinks area becomes overcrowded and needs more space, which
would lessen the general problem of overcrowding in the area.
A single queue serving area should be arranged, with self-service
for vegetables (as with salad).
4. Terrace Pavilion: Staff can use
the Terrace Pavilion on Mondays and Fridays only. Access should
be allowed throughout the week. This would lessen demand on the
Terrace Cafeteria.
5. Bellamy's Clubroom: Ever since
Bellamy's coffee lounge was converted into a Members' Clubroom,
the TUS have campaigned for it to revert to its former use. Many
members of staff previously used the facility, thus freeing up
room in the main Bellamy's cafeteria. The clubroom is greatly
underused in its present form, a point raised with the Catering
Committee in 2002.
6. Bellamy's Gift Kiosk: Could this
now vacant area be converted into a sandwich and hot drinks outlet,
similar to the Despatch Box in Portcullis House? This, combined
with the change to the Clubroom, would greatly help to alleviate
the problem of overcrowding in Bellamy's.
7. Press Facilities: Precious space
is being set aside to cater for a relatively small number of political
correspondents, as distinct from a large parliamentary reporting
staff as was originally intended when the Press Dining Room and
cafeteria were established. Ordinary staff should now have access
to these facilities, so as to relieve pressure on the Terrace,
which, as we discuss in 2 above, is now the only general facility
in the Palace.
8. Security Staff and Contractors: Perhaps
a dedicated canteen for police and Security Officers could be
established? The Security Officers have quite extensive staff
rooms, and one might be converted. Could more port-a-cabins selling
refreshments be made available for contractors, as was the case
last summer recess?
9. Meeting/Reading areas: The use
of cafeterias as meeting/reading areas leads to problems of overcrowding.
Could possible alternatives be publicised, such as Bellamy's Bar?
10. Outlets open during recess: overcrowding
is exacerbated during recesses, particularly short ones, when
some outlets are closed for the duration. While we appreciate
that management has to make the best use of staffing levels available
to them, could more be done to prevent the lengthy queues that
build, for example, in the Debate when Bellamy's cafeteria is
closed?
11. Pricing: Pricing differentials
were tried a few years ago and were a good idea in principle—for
example, lowering the price of meals outside the most congested
time—but it might well disadvantage the lower-paid members
of staff who often do not have the luxury of deciding when to
take their lunch breaks. Fruit and vegetables are too expensive
in comparison with less healthy options, and there is too much
disparity between breakfast costs, which are relatively low, and
the higher prices for lunch. In general, the pricing structure
should encourage the consumption of fruit, salad, and vegetables.
We appreciate, of course, that the RD are under
pressure to reduce the cost of their operation through imposition
of the cap. We would point out, however, as did the Deputy Leader
of the House in Westminster Hall on 3 November (col 373WH) that
staff have to use the catering facilities, because of unsocial
hours and lack of alternatives. Many of the staff are on average
or low salaries, and the imposition of higher prices would be
a serious matter for them. We are certainly against the general
raising of prices.
12. Self-clear: Self-clearing should
be the rule throughout the cafeterias. The turnover of tables
is slowed down by the amount of debris left behind. Clearing staff
impose extra costs on the RD.
13. Guests: The facility for staff
to take guests into RD outlets is greatly prized, and should be
retained, though we accept it is not unreasonable to exclude the
very peak time of 1245-1330.
14. Vending machines: There should
be more choice of low calorie cold drinks from the machines, and
some of the machines are not well sited.
15. Access: The current rules on
access exacerbate tensions between Officers of the House and other
members of staff, as Officers have access to many refreshment
facilities from which other staff are barred. We favour the opening
of these refreshment facilities to staff across the House wherever
possible, especially as a number of these facilities are under-used.
16. Saturday openings: some staff,
such as those working in PWSD, are required to work weekends,
when there is no refreshment facility open onsite. Could a venue
operate on Saturdays, perhaps between breakfast and lunch, to
accommodate such staff?
4 November 2005
| 
