Further written evidence submitted by
Parliamentary Press Gallery
As I mentioned to you at the end of your last committee
meeting on Monday this week, members of the Press Gallery are
extremely keen to come forward with suggestions for the greater
use of Moncrieff's self-service cafeteria.
We understand you are considering options for cost
saving and income generation across the House services. We also
understand that it is the view of the House Catering & Retail
Services that the self-service cafeteria and waiter service operation
is uneconomic and consequently should be closed, although the
café/bar would remain open. We regret this rather negative
approach and would very much like the opportunity to discuss in
more detail how we could co-operate with Sue Harrison and her
team in increasing trade in Moncrieff's.
However, we do appreciate that the waiter service
element of Moncrieff's—the Bistro as it is known—is
underused and might, with regret, accept that this should be discontinued.
However, as this is the only place where members of the Press
Gallery can entertain guests to lunch, closure would only be acceptable
if we were able to have access to the Adjournment and the Churchill
Room for lunch and dinner. Our members have a regular and genuine
need to entertain as part of their jobs and without Moncrieff's
Bistro there is nowhere on the Parliamentary estate where they
can do this.
We feel it is imperative that the rest of the self
service cafeteria should remain open. It is used not only by members
of the Press Gallery, for whom quick and easy access to a hot
meal is essential when working to deadlines, but as a welcome
alternative to the queues at the "honeypot" venues in
Portcullis House and the Terrace by other passholders, thereby
easing the load on those venues.
In addition, Moncrieff's is a fundamental part of
the working life of the Press Gallery. It is used for a wide variety
of functions, including monthly lunches at which key Parliamentarians,
including recently both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, have been recent speakers, and regular receptions—for
example:
- the Press Gallery's successful schools writing
competition (run in conjunction with the Parliament Education
Service);
- an event to welcome the current Speaker as Hon
President of the Press Gallery;
- two events to welcome new Members to Parliament
last May);
- regular events for government and opposition
advisers, political think tanks and so on; and
- internal social events, such as a very popular
quiz night.
Were the cafeteria to close, alternative venues would
have to be found for all these functions.
I had a very productive meeting with Sue Harrison
earlier this week during which we discussed her proposals for
consideration by your committee. Mrs Harrison mentioned that in
the event of closure, the space could be used as a venue for catering
staff meals at lunchtime. It seems illogical to fire up the kitchens
for meals taken between 11.00 and 12.00 and then not to keep the
area open for normal lunch time service.
We have a number of positive suggestions for increasing
footfall through Moncrieff's:
- An additional "themed" lunch time to
build on the success of the "fish and chip Fryday".
- A venue for political meetings, political book
launches and signings, and club dinners. A number of Members have
told us they would be unhappy with the Churchill Room being set
aside for functions. Moncrieff's could be considered as an alternative
venue.
- A place for Parliamentary groups to welcome visitors
and delegations to Westminster.
- That consideration be given to keeping the cafeteria
open all year round accompanied by a serious marketing exercise
in order to increase customer loyalty and habitual use amongst
specific groups of passholders, eg the police and security staff.
- Political breakfast briefings, such as we have
undertaken in the past.
The Press Gallery is an historic and integral part
of Parliament, attributes which we are sure could be used as an
effective marketing tool in a positive campaign to develop it
as a venue and maximise revenue. We would welcome an opportunity
to discuss these matters further with you before your committee
reaches its final conclusions for recommendation to the House
of Commons Commission.
January 2011
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