Refreshment
Department
(Superintendent: A D O Bibbiani)
1 Purpose
The Department has responsibility for the provision
of catering facilities to Members and Officers of the House and
their guests, staff and Counsel. It also provides a private function
service to Members of the House and Officers, and retails House
of Lords gifts and souvenirs.
2 Organisation
The Department employs 95 staff, of whom 14 are in
managerial positions and 4 are employed in a clerical capacity.
Staff numbers have remained stable since 1998-99. Fluctuations
around the current figure are expected to be minimal for the foreseeable
future with the exception of the recruitment of 5 additional full-time
members of staff for the new satellite unit in Millbank House
which will begin operations in October 2001.
The Department makes use of some casual labour to
mitigate the effects of unfilled vacancies, variations in demand
(chiefly for functions), staff sickness and absence.
3 Activities and Financial Performance
The services provided by the Department and the year's
results are summarised in Part I (paragraph 86) and are set out
in detail in the Accounts (page 60).
All internal and external performance targets were
met ensuring, for the sixth consecutive year, full staff participation
in the bonus scheme. With the agreement of trade union officials,
the percentage available for distribution under this scheme was
decreased to 10% (20% in 1998-99) of surplus profit over and above
the Treasury target, with a view to discontinuation in 2000-01.
The Department has continued its policy of bearing
certain costs on the Trading Account which in the past were borne
on the House of Lords Votes. The performance of each outlet continues
to be monitored with reference to specified percentage profit
targets, set and reviewed annually by the Refreshment Sub-Committee.
Original budget provision for Refreshment Department
expenditure falling on the House of Lords Administration Vote
(chiefly wages costs of staff other than functions and retail)
was £685,000. This was subsequently increased by a
supplementary estimate and virement to £797,054 (£702,237
in 1998-99) to take account of additional staff costs and expenditure
on computer services. Net expenditure was £792,809 (£700,368
in 1998-99). Refreshment Department expenditure falling on the
Works Services Vote was offset by a contribution by the Department
of £19,214 as reimbursement of the costs of qualifying items
of light equipment under an agreement with the Parliamentary Works
Directorate.
4 Future Activities
- The new catering outlet at Millbank House is
expected to begin operation in October 2001. It will provide a
breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea service to Members and staff.
- The Department will aim to continue to offer
the best possible catering facilities and the highest quality
of service, to be responsive to the wishes of customers and observant
of any possible impact that the reform of the House may have on
trading activities.
- A major IT upgrade and development programme,
comprising the installation of an Electronic Point of Sale System,
a Stock Management System, a Banqueting Diary system and new Accounting
software will begin in September 2000.
Black Rod's
Department
(Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod: General Sir
Edward Jones)
1 Purpose
The duties of Black Rod's Department include the
historic responsibility for controlling access to the Chamber;
the organisation and mounting of ceremonial events; the co-ordination,
with the House of Commons, of the security arrangements for the
Palace of Westminster; the planning and supervision of the Works
programme; the search for solutions to the overriding problem
of insufficient accommodation for Peers; and the provision of
domestic services.
2 Organisation
The organisation of the Department remained unchanged
and has continued to benefit from a high degree of stability.
The Document Management System (DMS) is now a fully established
part of office practice.
Doorkeepers and Attendants have continued to provide
a high quality of service to Peers and staff. The recommendations
of a report by the Staff Inspector in respect of the Attendants
have been accepted and will be implemented during the coming year.
3 Activities and Financial Performance
1999 was dominated by the passage of the House of
Lords Bill. The practical aspects of the change in membership
had a significant impact on the work of the Department and contributed,
along with many introduction ceremonies for new Peers, to considerable
pressure of work. Despite the sensitivities involved, the desks
and lockers of former Members were cleared and emptied in accordance
with the planned timetable. Subsequently, the facilities granted
to former Members have been used discreetly and unobtrusively.
The changing composition of the House has placed further demands
on the availability of working accommodation and the adequacy
of the facilities provided. This is now the most pressing problem
facing the House.
Ceremonial
- Her Majesty The Queen opened Parliament on 17
November 1999.
- The following major events took place in the
Royal Gallery during the year: a Ceremony to mark the 50th Anniversary
of the Council of Europe, a Reception for Millennium Award winners
on 31 December 1999 and a Multi-Faith Event on 3 January 2000.
A Reception, attended by Princess Margaret, to celebrate the 900th
Anniversary of the Order of St John was held in Westminster Hall
on 31 March 2000.
Filming
- The preparation of a further film about the House
of Lords, which concentrated on the period leading up to the passing
of the House of Lords Bill, involved the Department in much administrative
and supervisory work. The film is due to be broadcast at the end
of 2000.
Administration
- Pressure has grown among Peers for improvements
in accommodation and the quality of facilities available to the
House. Work has started to convert and modernise 7 Little College
Street, which has been rented from the Church Commissioners and
will provide space for desks for 80 Peers. Work will be completed
by December 2000. In February 2001 a small number of rooms in
the Palace will be transferred from the House of Commons to the
House of Lords. Work will then start on Millbank House, also acquired
on a rental basis from the Church Commissioners. This will become
available in August 2001.
- Negotiations to renew the Special Service Agreement
with the Metropolitan Police were successfully completed. Charges
under the new Agreement are based on payment for the services
actually delivered and will require careful monitoring.
- Arrangements have been put in hand to deal with
an increased level of malicious correspondence received by Peers.
- The summer works programme 1999 was completed
on time and within budget. A welcome start has been made to the
long awaited programme of stone cleaning in the House of Lords
inner courtyards.
- All outstanding issues arising from the Fire
Review have now been resolved.
- The range of messaging services for Peers has
been extended and proposals have been developed to improve substantially
the quality of the mail service. This will be put in place in
the coming year.
- Black Rod's database, an integral part of the
Parliamentary Administrative Database, has been installed.
- The medical arrangements in support of the House
have been reviewed. As a result two defibrillators have been acquired
and Doorkeepers and Attendants trained in their use.
- The two Houses have agreed that the Line of Route
should be open to the general public on a trial basis during August
and September 2000 (see Part I, paragraph 72).
4 Finance
|
| Provision
| Annual out-turn
| |
|
| Budget | 1999-2000
| 1999-2000
| 1998-99
|
| £
| £
| £
|
| Security | 5,755,000
| 5,754,328
| 5,227,193
|
| Works | 15,483,000
| 14,143,606
| 13,560,355
|
| Telecommunications |
700,000 |
666,599 |
754,955 |
| Black Rod's Department |
1,479,500 |
1,432,212 |
1,338,976 |
| Postal | 65,000
| 59,001
| 18,205
|
| Total | 23,482,500
| 22,055,746
| 20,899,684
|
|
5 Future Activities
The following activities are contained in the Departmental
Plan for 2000-2001:
- Allocation of accommodation to Peers in 7 Little
College Street, the "Five Rooms" and Millbank House.
- Planning and execution of the move of Peers to
7 Little College Street.
- Provision of security and services in 7 Little
College Street.
- Planning for the move to Millbank House.
- The opening of the Line of Route to the general
public.
- Implementation of major ceremonial events planned
for 2000.
- Completion, to time and to target, of the annual
works programme.
