Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what is the cost to the House of Lords Administration of a sitting Friday that rises at (1) 3.00pm, and (2) 6.00pm, including the costs of members' attendance claims and Administration staffing costs.

It is not possible to disaggregate allowances claimed by Members of the House of Lords for attendance captured within specific time periods. Average attendance for a sitting Friday in the 2024-26 Parliamentary Session to date is 264 Members, with an average cost in members’ allowances claims for those dates of £78,165.00.

I am advised of the specific costs relating to three areas of the House of Lords Administration—Security, Catering and Hansard—for both a sitting Friday that rises at the conventional 3pm time and, if relevant, a 6pm finish time are listed below. These costs have been identified as an additional expenditure, outside of any arrangements undertaken by other teams to adapt within their conditioned hours.

Security The additional cost for a sitting Friday as opposed to a non-sitting Friday is approximately £4,500 in police overtime costs, with no difference in cost for the House sitting beyond 3pm. Any remaining security costs are fixed.

Catering The approximate net cost of catering services on a sitting Friday estimated to rise at 3pm are approximately £2,530. This is to provide the additional catering services required, (that would normally be closed on a non-sitting Friday), namely; Peers Dining Room, Peers Guest Room and Peers Long Room.

For a sitting beyond 3pm, the cost of the House is approximately £450 to provide cover up until the rise of the House.

Hansard Hansard have included an extra Reporter, either freelance or part time, at a cost of about £215 per day for a sitting Friday beyond the conventional 3pm finishing time.