Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
We questioned the Clerk of the House of Commons on the timeframes and Parliamentary processes...
Conclusion
We questioned the Clerk of the House of Commons on the timeframes and Parliamentary processes required to make any changes and provide more certainty. He told us that the House Commissions had sought additional assurance work ahead of a June 2022 joint meeting to agree a report setting out their reasoning to Members of both Houses. On 14 June, the Commissions published their joint report setting out the issues to be voted on by the Houses. This considered the findings of the assurance work, with the independent expert review panel’s report as an annex. 21 HC49 Q31 22 Letter from Dr John Benger, 29 March 2022 23 HC 49 Qq 92–93; C&AG’s Report, Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme, Session 2019–21, HC 315, 24 April 2022 24 HC49 Q 18 25 HC1100 Q 49 26 C&AG’s Report, para 2.4 27 HC1100 Q 157, HC49 Q 20 28 HC49 Q 18 29 HC49 Q 21 30 Joint report from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 14 June 2022, page 11 31 Joint correspondence from the Clerk of the House of Commons and Clerk of the Parliaments, 20 May 2022 32 Press notice from the Sponsor Body 26 March 2022 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament 13
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
First bullet - Indicative timeframe The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments commit to implement this recommendation, where it is within their powers to do so. Target implementation date: The Commissions’ timeframe for the debates in both Houses (before the summer recess) has been achieved, with the House of Commons debate tabled for 12 July 2022 and the House of Lords debate announced for 13 July 2022. The Commissions’ report sets out a timeframe for the drafting of the necessary regulations in autumn 2022. The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments are committed to meeting the indicative timeframe in the Commissions’ Report, set out at paragraph 73. However, the Committee will be aware that, subject to the agreement of the two Houses to the relevant motions, laying of the necessary regulations is not within the control of either the Clerk of the House or the Clerk of the Parliaments. Although officials in Parliament will be closely involved 36 in the drafting of the regulations under section 10 of the 2019 Act, the timetable for bringing forward the regulations for approval by each House is for the Government to determine. Nevertheless, the intended timeframe for the debates (to take place before the summer recess) is on track to be met, with the House of Commons debate tabled for 12 July 2022 and the House of Lords debate announced for 13 July 2022. The Clerk of the House and Clerk of the Parliaments undertake to provide any assistance required to facilitate the indicative timeframe for the regulations being met. The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments have made preparations to support the Commissions to take timely decisions to enable the establishment of the Client Board and Programme Board, subject to the Houses’ approval of the motions. In addition to the indicative dates given at paragraph 73 of the Commissions’ report, milestones for the various strands of transition activity will be recorded and monitored via a shared plan (The Phase 1 Plan) between Parliament and the Delivery Authority. The new governance structure, and the Programme Board in particular, will play an important role in monitoring progress against milestones. Paragraph 51 of the Commissions’ Report notes: “The Domestic Committees of the two Houses will also have an important role to play in advising the Commissions on the discharge of their new functions.” The Clerks will ensure that the domestic committees of both Houses are engaged effectively so they are in a position to provide informed advice to the Commissions.