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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 4—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 4                                                                                                  

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Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

 

 
 

Contents

Part 1

The civil service etc

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 4                                                                                                  

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Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

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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

Chapter 4

Crown employment: nationality

21   

Removal of existing nationality requirements

22   

Power to impose new nationality requirements

23   

Repeals and revocations

Part 2

Ratification of treaties

24   

Treaties to be laid before Parliament before ratification

25   

Extension of 21 sitting day period

26   

Section 24 not to apply in exceptional cases

27   

Section 24 not to apply to certain descriptions of treaties

28   

Meaning of “treaty” and “ratification”

Part 3

The House of Lords

Excepted hereditary peers

29   

Ending of by-elections for hereditary peers

Removal of members etc

30   

Removal of members of the House of Lords etc

31   

Expulsion and suspension of members of the House of Lords

 

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

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32   

Resignation from House of Lords

33   

Disclaimer of peerage

34   

Supplementary provision

Part 4

Public order

35   

Demonstrations etc in the vicinity of Parliament

Part 5

Human rights claims against devolved administrations

36   

Time limit for human rights actions against Scottish Ministers etc

37   

Time limit for human rights actions against Northern Ireland Ministers etc

38   

Time limit for human rights actions against Welsh Ministers etc

Part 6

Courts and tribunals

39   

Judicial appointments etc

40   

Salary protection for members of tribunals

41   

Salary protection for office holders in Northern Ireland

Part 7

National audit

The Comptroller and Auditor General

42   

The office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

43   

Status of the Comptroller and Auditor General etc

44   

Provision of services

45   

Remuneration package of the Comptroller and Auditor General

46   

Resignation or removal of the Comptroller and Auditor General

47   

Employment etc of a former Comptroller and Auditor General

The National Audit Office

48   

Incorporation of the National Audit Office

49   

Interaction between NAO and the Comptroller and Auditor General

50   

NAO’s expenditure

Other matters

51   

Efficiency etc

52   

Indemnification

53   

Definitions

54   

Transitional provision and consequential amendments

55   

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

Auditor General

 

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

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Powers of National Assembly for Wales: Auditor General for Wales

56   

Powers of National Assembly for Wales: Auditor General for Wales

Part 8

Transparency of government financial reporting to Parliament

57   

Inclusion in departmental estimates of resources used by designated bodies

58   

Corresponding provision in relation to Wales

Part 9

Final provisions

59   

Meaning of “Minister of the Crown”

60   

Financial provision

61   

Power to make consequential provision

62   

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   —   

Crown employment: repeals and revocations

Schedule 4   —   

Conditions for removal of members of the House of Lords etc

Part 1   —   

Conditions for removal

Part 2   —   

Supplementary provision for section 30(2)

Part 3   —   

Reversal of effect of section 30(2)

Schedule 5   —   

Amendment to Part 2 of the Public Order Act 1986 etc

Schedule 6   —   

Judicial appointments etc

Schedule 7   —   

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 8   —   

Interaction between NAO and the Comptroller and Auditor

General

Schedule 9   —   

Transitional provision relating to Part 7

Schedule 10   —   

Consequential amendments relating to Part 7

Part 1   —   

Meaning of “old NAO”

Part 2   —   

Amendments to Acts of Parliament

 

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

v

 

Part 3   —   

Amendments to other legislation

 

 

 
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Revised 19 November 2009