Select Committee on Administration Minutes of Evidence


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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