Statement on welfare in Parliament
10 January 2018
The House of Commons takes the welfare of everyone on the Parliamentary Estate very seriously.
As noted by MPs in the Chamber on Monday 30 October 2017, MPs employ their staff directly. The House of Commons does not have the power to initiate disciplinary procedures on behalf of Members' staff against Members of Parliament, or otherwise to interfere in the contractual relationship between a Member and his or her staff, and is therefore extremely limited in its ability to intervene in such cases. However, the House takes the welfare of everyone who works in Parliament very seriously and provides a range of advice and support services which are available to Members' staff. Any allegations of a criminal nature should be reported directly to the police.
The House of Commons Commission considered the issue of harassment and bullying on the Parliamentary Estate at its meeting on 6 November. It made several recommendations, including extending the helpline to all pass-holders and working with the Commons Reference Group on Representation and Inclusion on this issue.
Advice and support for MPs and their staff
We provide HR advice to MPs through the Members' HR Advice Service, who also promote good employment practices.
A free confidential helpline is provided by the House of Commons and available 24/7 for all Parliamentary pass-holders. The service, provided on behalf of the House by Health Assured, allows staff to discuss and seek advice on personal and professional issues. The House authorities have worked closely with staff representative groups to ensure that the service meets requirements, and the contract with Health Assured has recently been extended following a full procurement process involving both House officials and staff representatives.
Members' staff have a staff association and can join a Trade Union – MAPSA is the staff association available and Unite is the trade union with the highest membership amongst Members' staff.
The various political parties also have their own grievance procedures in place.
Support for House of Commons staff
In July 2014, the House of Commons introduced the Respect Policy, which is designed to combat bullying and harassment of House of Commons staff by MPs or their staff. Complaints of bullying and harassment within the House are dealt with using our Valuing Others policy, which ACAS has commended as an example of best practice. In addition to our robust policies, a training programme to equip managers with the skills to deal with conflict in the workplace, has been developed.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Where Members are alleged to have breached the MPs code of conduct it is possible for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to launch an investigation. Anyone can make an allegation of misconduct, whether a member of the public or an MP.
Use of Alcohol on the Parliamentary Estate
The House of Commons promotes responsible drinking. In all of our catering venues there is real focus on the sale of non-alcoholic drinks. We also ensure that product promotions in bars include a balance of non-alcoholic products where possible. The House of Commons Commission has already agreed a number of actions to promote responsible alcohol use. These included increasing the range of non-alcoholic drinks and lower strength beers available, and training and supporting staff to refuse to serve customers when necessary.
The Sports & Social club bar (a bar on the Parliamentary Estate) is currently closed while an investigation into an incident associated with the venue is conducted. The Sports and Social club bar is managed by an external contractor. It is the only refreshment outlet on the Estate to be run in this way. Following an internal inquiry commissioned by the Lord Speaker, the House of Lords announced earlier this month that it will, in future, be managed in-house. A review will be carried out to look at the opening times and access arrangements for this venue.