House of Commons Commission Bill

The House of Commons Commission Bill 2014-15 amends the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978 to make changes to the membership and remit of the House of Commons Commission.

The legislation follows recommendations made by the House of Commons Governance Committee, which had been established following concerns about the process of appointing the new Clerk of the House of Commons and Chief Executive in the summer of 2014.

The Committee proposed changes to the governance structures of the House, including changes to the remit and membership of the Commission; and that the role of Clerk and Chief Executive should be changed. It recommended that the Commission should, in addition to its current role, “set the strategic framework for the provision of services to the House, its Members and the public”; and that an additional backbench Member, two external members and the Clerk and the new Director General of the House of Commons should be appointed to the Commission. The House endorsed the Committee’s report, following a debate on 22 January 2015.

The Bill is scheduled to have its Second Reading and all remaining stages on 24 February 2015.