Recommendation 33

The Clerk of the House of Commons suggested that where there was a real abuse of procedure, there would be value to him being able to put this on record through placing a letter in the Library. He mentioned how the Speaker of the Commons recognised the value of introducing such a procedure.79 However, in response the Speaker does not have authority to provide the Clerk with a letter of direction, effectively authorising him to take action beyond his responsibilities. It remained unclear how decisions could be overridden. Also the Clerks had not considered how a similar process could be undertaken for the Clerk to the Parliaments.80