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Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

 
 

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, in conjunction with

the Cabinet Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office and

HM Treasury, are published separately as Bill 142—EN.

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Secretary Jack Straw has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the

Human Rights Act 1998:

In my view the provisions of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill are

compatible with the Convention rights.

 

Bill 142                                                                                                

54/4

 

 
 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

 

 
 

Contents

Part 1

The civil service

Chapter 1

Statutory basis for management of the civil service

Application

1   

Application of Chapter

Civil Service Commission

2   

Establishment of the Civil Service Commission

Power to manage the civil service

3   

Management of the civil service

4   

Other statutory management powers

Codes of conduct

5   

Civil service code

6   

Diplomatic service code

7   

Minimum requirements for civil service and diplomatic service codes

8   

Special advisers code

9   

Conduct that conflicts with a code of conduct: complaints by civil servants

Appointment

10   

Selections for appointments to the civil service

11   

Recruitment principles

12   

Approvals for selections and exceptions

13   

Complaints about competitions

14   

Monitoring by the Commission

 

Bill 142                                                                                                

54/4

 

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

ii

 

Special advisers

15   

Definition of “special adviser”

16   

Annual reports about special advisers

Additional functions of the Commission

17   

Agreements for the Commission to carry out additional functions

Final provisions

18   

Definitions etc

Chapter 2

Consequential and transitional provision

19   

Consequential amendments and transitional provision

Chapter 3

Northern Ireland

20   

The Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland

Part 2

Ratification of treaties

21   

Treaties to be laid before Parliament before ratification

22   

Extension of 21 sitting day period

23   

Section 21 not to apply in exceptional cases

24   

Section 21 not to apply to certain descriptions of treaties

25   

Meaning of “treaty” and “ratification”

Part 3

The House of Lords

Excepted hereditary peers

26   

Ending of by-elections for hereditary peers

Removal of members etc

27   

Removal of members of the House of Lords etc

28   

Expulsion and suspension of members of the House of Lords

29   

Resignation from House of Lords

30   

Disclaimer of peerage

31   

Supplementary provision

 

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

iii

 

Part 4

Public order

32   

Demonstrations etc in the vicinity of Parliament

Part 5

Human rights claims against devolved administrations

33   

Time limit for human rights actions against Northern Ireland Ministers etc

34   

Time limit for human rights actions against Welsh Ministers etc

Part 6

Courts and tribunals

35   

Judicial appointments etc

36   

Salary protection for members of tribunals

Part 7

National audit

The Comptroller and Auditor General

37   

The office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

38   

Status of the Comptroller and Auditor General etc

39   

Provision of services

40   

Remuneration package of the Comptroller and Auditor General

41   

Resignation or removal of the Comptroller and Auditor General

42   

Employment etc of a former Comptroller and Auditor General

The National Audit Office

43   

Incorporation of the National Audit Office

44   

Interaction between NAO and the Comptroller and Auditor General

45   

NAO’s expenditure

Other matters

46   

Efficiency etc

47   

Indemnification

48   

Definitions

49   

Transitional provision and consequential amendments

50   

Power to make Companies Act companies subject to audit of Comptroller and

Auditor General

Part 8

Transparency of government financial reporting to Parliament

51   

Inclusion in departmental estimates of resources used by designated bodies

52   

Corresponding provision in relation to Wales

 

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

iv

 

Part 9

Final provisions

53   

Meaning of “Minister of the Crown”

54   

Financial provision

55   

Power to make consequential provision

56   

Extent, commencement, transitional provision and short title

Schedule 1   —   

The Civil Service Commission

Part 1   —   

The Commissioners

Part 2   —   

The Commission

Schedule 2   —   

Consequential amendments and transitional provision

relating to Part 1

Part 1   —   

Consequential amendments to Acts of Parliament

Part 2   —   

Consequential amendments to other legislation

Part 3   —   

Transitional provision relating to the Civil Service

Commission

Part 4   —   

Other transitional provision

Schedule 3   —   

Conditions for removal of members of the House of Lords etc

Part 1   —   

Conditions for removal

Part 2   —   

Supplementary provision for section 27(2)

Part 3   —   

Reversal of effect of section 27(2)

Schedule 4   —   

Amendment to Part 2 of the Public Order Act 1986 etc

Schedule 5   —   

Judicial appointments etc

Schedule 6   —   

The National Audit Office

Part 1   —   

Membership and status

Part 2   —   

Non-executive members

Part 3   —   

Chief executive

Part 4   —   

Employee members

Part 5   —   

Employees

Part 6   —   

Procedural rules

Part 7   —   

Other matters

Schedule 7   —   

Interaction between NAO and the Comptroller and Auditor

General

Schedule 8   —   

Transitional provision relating to Part 7

Schedule 9   —   

Consequential amendments relating to Part 7

Part 1   —   

Meaning of “old NAO”

Part 2   —   

Amendments to Acts of Parliament

Part 3   —   

Amendments to other legislation

 

 

 
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