Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Fifty-Second Report - Restoration & Renewal of the Palace of Westminster – 2023 Recall
Public Accounts Committee
HC 1021
Published 17 May 2023
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-second report from Session 2022-23 · published 21 Jul 2023
Recommendations & Conclusions
32
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
No formal process exists for Clerks to challenge misaligned restoration programme decisions.
Conclusion
There is currently no formal process in place should the Clerks be requested to do something they felt did not align with their respective responsibilities. For example, the Clerks cannot overrule the restoration and renewal Client Board or the Programme …
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Government Response Summary
The Clerks agree with the conclusion, noting existing limited processes for disagreement and stating that in significant disagreements concerning the R&R works, they would formally record their disagreement in Board minutes and correspondence, rather than implementing a ministerial direction equivalent.
HM Treasury
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33
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Unclear procedure for Clerks to record abuse and override decisions.
Conclusion
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 …
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Government Response Summary
The government clarifies that an equivalent of a ministerial direction for Corporate Officers would be of limited value, but states they would record significant disagreements in formal Board minutes and correspondence for both Houses.
HM Treasury
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