Memorandum by The Secretaries' and Assistants'
Council
ACCESS REGULATIONS
It is apparent to Members' Staff that access
regulations regarding the Debate, Bellamy's and the Terrace cafeteria
are now in abeyance. We have in the past raised concerns at the
excessive number of visitors using the facilities, particularly
at lunch times, that under the existing arrangements are not entitled
to. When this has been raised with Catering Department management
we are told that they do not have the staff to enforce the access
regulations. A clear definition of passes and access would be
most appreciated. The Catering Department uses the term "Full
Pass" within the access regulations. According to the Serjeant
at Arm Department this refers to grey passes only.
To illustrate this point may we draw your attention
to lobby (copper) pass holders. This group of pass holders appear
to be able to use all the Debate, Terrace and Bellamy's cafeterias
at any time yet have near exclusive use of the Press Gallery Cafeteria.
You may be interested to know that House of Commons catering facilities
are regularly used by Press pass holders working from 1 Millbank.
This is because our cafeteria food is better (so we are told)
than that provided at 1 Millbank.
We feel that there is insufficient publicity
given to access concessions regarding Fridays and recess periods.
It would be useful, particularly if there is a review, if we might
be better informed of where we may eat and on which day, as well
as being told where we may not eat. Would it be possible or practical
to have one of the three cafeterias dedicated to pass holders
only? The current arrangements are clearly not working.
EFFECTIVE USE
OF ACCOMMODATION
We do not feel that the best use is made of
the accommodation. There is overcrowding in the Terrace Cafeteria
and also in Bellamy's Cafeteria. We wish to see the partition
removed completely from the Terrace Cafeteria and the Club room
at No 1 Parliament Street opened to all. We have suggested in
the past that the Club room could be used for cold food; serving
salads and sandwiches. Another ill used area is the old gift shop
in No 1 Parliament Street, could this not be utilised to sell
sandwiches or coffee at peak times? Would it be possible for the
Press Cafeteria to be open to all with an alternative menu to
the "traditional" fare that this cafeteria has generally
offered?
SUBSIDY ARRANGEMENTS
As a group, we are not as of right, privy to
the arrangements for the subsidising of the catering department
and as such it is difficult for us to comment on the impact. We
are aware that the dining rooms receive a greater subsidy than
the Cafeterias; is this because of staffing and contractual obligations?
We are always surprised to see that it takes six staff from the
dining rooms to provide holiday cover for the three staff that
work in the Adjournment, Portcullis House, when the House is sitting.
Another matter, we should be interested to know;
from which subsidy pot the cost of catering staff food and beverages
are charged; does this come from the general subsidy of cafeteria
food (if there is one) or from the catering department employment
budget? Surely we must ask, what is the ethos behind the subsidy?
Costs and profits can easily be hidden. We would
ask you to consider the House of Commons breakfast; this is available
in a multiple for three, five or seven items, three items costing
from £1.75. Items are also priced individually Sausages 60p
Fried Egg 35p Tomatoes 45p etc. Depending on the items selected
there can be an enormous disparity, a difference of one third
of the cost of three items. Is a subsidy being used to encourage
us to eat more or is this a method of claw back?
Sandwiches, pre-packed salads and desserts whilst
reasonable in price rarely appear fresh, better value can be found
outside the Palace from independent sandwich shop. Would the House
consider franchising an outlet? A 350 mil Americano costs £1.55
from Café Nero, a £1.60 Americano from the Despatch
box yields 400 Mil.
Over the past two years we have seen a cut back
in the availability of cafeterias available to Members' Staff
during recesses, though the House may not be sitting we are certainly
still working, to take out a newly refurbished cafeteria for the
whole of summer recess (Bellamy's) seems to be a waste of the
investment. Portcullis House was pushed to cope at different times
as they ran out of sandwiches and some dishes. In the past we
have been told that vending machines were available as an alternative,
three out of the four in Portcullis House have now been removed
and not replaced.
We do appreciate that some of the points we
make may not be directly relevant to the question of the subsidy
but we raise them to illustrate our concerns; how much more must
be charged to food provided in cafeterias before break even is
reached if that is the aim? Will this be reached before it is
cost effective to eat outside of the work place or bring in one's
own food?
4 November 2005
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