House of Commons Commission Act 2015

Section 1

SCHEDULE Further provision about members and procedure of the Commission

1 Schedule 1 to the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978 (the Commission) is amended as follows.

2 After paragraph 1 insert—

“Appointment of external members

1A (1) A motion for a resolution appointing an external member may be made only with the agreement of the Commission.

(2) A person who is the subject of a motion must have been selected by the parliamentary members on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.”

3 (1) Paragraph 2 (members other than ex officio members) is amended as follows.

(2) In sub-paragraphs (1) and (2), for “member of the Commission” substitute “parliamentary member”.

(3) In sub-paragraph (4) at the end insert “, subject to any resolution of the House of Commons”.

(4) In sub-paragraph (5)—

(a) for “and the” substitute “, the”, and

(b) at the end insert “, the Clerk of the House of Commons or the Director General of the House of Commons”.

4 (1) Paragraph 3 is amended as follows.

(2) In sub-paragraphs (1) and (3) for “member of the Commission” substitute “parliamentary member”.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2) for “members of the Commission” substitute “parliamentary members”.

5 In paragraph 5(2) (power to delegate to head of House Department or Accounting Officer)—

(a) in paragraph (a) for “the head of any House Department” substitute “a member of staff in the House Departments”, and

(b) omit paragraph (b).

6 In paragraph 6(3) (power of Commission to appoint Commissioner to act as chairman) for “in the absence of” substitute “in place of”.