Annex 4: The Ibbs Report (1990)
The House of Commons Commission appointed Sir Robin
Ibbs KBE in May 1990 to report on whether the responsibilities
for the management and services of the House of Commons and its
facilities, then divided between itself, the Select Committee
on House of Commons (Services), the Department of the Environment
and the Leader of the House could be brought together with a view
to ensuring that so far as possible there is a co-ordinated management
and decision-making structure under the control of the House,
which can adequately respond to Members' needs and demands for
services, and determine priorities between them. Sir Robin reported
in November 1990. The Recommendations of the Ibbs Report are set
out below.
"We have identified the House of Commons Commission
as the body which should take the lead in setting in hand the
changes that are needed. But they will not succeed unless everyone
is committed to them. Above all, Members' co-operation will be
needed both during the process of change, and in operating the
new arrangements. In the light of our findings and conclusions
we recommend that the House of Commons Commission should:
Policy
(a) Play a wider and more active part in determining
policy for services in the House of Commons wherever these entail
expenditure, directing their execution and development, and controlling
their finances. The Commission's role should be strategic, leaving
the detailed work to be done by Committees and House officials.
(b) Seek the modification of the existing domestic
select committee structure. The Select Committee on House of Commons
(Services) itself should be replaced by a Finance and Services
Committee, charged with providing financial and other advice to
the Commission. The present five sub-Committees of the Services
Committee should be replaced by four freestanding committees covering
catering; accommodation and works; library, publications and information
technology; and administration. These committees should represent
Members' interests as consumers in determining the provision of
services to the House.
Organisation and systems
(c) Secure the introduction of a comprehensive
financial management system and the reform of the Administration
Department to develop and operate it.
(d) Endorse new terms of reference for the Board
of Management making clear the Board's enhanced corporate management
role; and its responsibility for giving advice and support on
financial matters to the Accounting Officer, the Finance and Services
Committee and the Commission.
Staff
(e) Make clear the Clerk's overall management
responsibility, as Accounting Officer and primus inter pares,
for the execution of policy in relation to services.
(f) Appoint a suitably qualified and experienced
Director of Finance to head the new Finance and Administration
Department and to provide professional support to the Clerk, the
Finance and Services Committee and the Commission.
(g) Appoint a suitably qualified Director of
Works together with the necessary supporting staff, to provide,
through the Serjeant at Arms, professional support to the Clerk,
the Finance and Services Committee and the Commission. It will
be for the House of Lords to consider whether the Director of
Works should provide similar support to that House under the terms
of a suitable agreement between the two authorities.
Finance
(h) Once a financial management system has been
successfully put in place, and key appointments made, assume responsibility,
progressively, for all House of Commons expenditure, except the
Members' salaries Vote. We suggest that these changes should be
completed by the beginning of the financial year 1992/93.
(i) Seek an arrangement under which the accounts
and performance measures relating to House of Commons expenditure
will be examined regularly by the National Audit Office and reviewed
by the Public Accounts Committee.
Implementation
(j) Charge a single person within the House with
responsibility, on behalf of the Commission for the successful
implementation and execution of these reforms. The Commission
should also consider what outside assistance it may need, to provide
advice on progress.
(k) As an interim measure while the changes are
being introduced, issue a statement for the information of Members
and staff describing the existing arrangements and how individuals
should go about getting complaints dealt with."
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