The Administration Committee will make sure the Westminster village works well for all
3 min read
The Administration Committee oversees the services provided by the House Administration to Members, staff, and visitors – playing an integral role by ensuring the views of Members, staff and the public are central in the decision-making process in Parliament.
Since the election it’s been clear that we’re going to see a lot of change across Parliament, and the Committee is already playing an important role in progressing that. We’re working with teams from across the House Administration to scrutinise work that is already underway. For instance, the Committee has heard from the Parliamentary Digital Service on topics including the parliamentary switchboard and hardware provision - and we were pleased to be briefed on the new Artificial Intelligence guidance for Members, which has the potential to help us to work more efficiently.
The last Committee had a clear and important focus on the supports available for departing Members. We want to build on the work done in that space and examine the support for Members during a General Election, as well as the provisions for newly inducted Members at the start of a new Parliament. Colleagues from the House Administration have already briefed us on the excellent work delivered at the last election to induct a record number of new Members, and we have been able to identify areas of improvement - such as highlighting procedural advice and heath and wellbeing services at the earliest opportunity.
But we’re not just here to provide advice – we must interrogate how decisions are being made and ensure we understand what sorts of challenges are being faced by the teams on the estate. We work in an extraordinary and unique location – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – but this can give rise to complications too. It’s why we’re holding regular discussions with officials from the Maintenance, Strategic Estates, and Restoration and Renewal Client teams, to find out more about the complex projects underway across the estate, and what needs to be done to ensure that the buildings we have here are fit for purpose.
And whilst there’s much for us to consider here in Westminster, we know that so much of the work we do as MPs takes place away from this place. It is why the Committee have been keen to ensure we’re regularly engaging with IPSA over the course of this Parliament. We’ve discussed the impact of office budgets on MPs and understand the importance of continued engagement with IPSA to ensure we can continue to deliver effectively for our constituents.
A key priority for me as Chair is to ensure that the Committee’s work remains clear, relevant, and meaningful. We issue regular updates on our activities, but I also am keen to hear from Members directly – how can we help make Parliament work better for you and your staff? As the Speaker says, we are a village here in Parliament – and the Administration Committee is here to ensure that the village is working efficiently for all of us.
