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Consideration of Bill: 2 March 2010                     

1187

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, continued

 
 

Dr Tony Wright

 

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger

 

Mr Gordon Prentice

 

Mr Charles Walker

 

Julie Morgan

 

David Heyes

 

Total signatories: 8

 

48

 

Page  5,  line  32  [Clause  8],  at end insert—

 

‘(9)    

A code published under this section must contain provision preventing a special

 

adviser from—

 

(a)    

authorising the expenditure of any public funds;

 

(b)    

exercising any power given by or under an Act of Parliament or an Act

 

of the Scottish Parliament; and

 

(c)    

exercising any management function in relation to the civil service.’.

 


 

Dr Tony Wright

 

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger

 

Mr Gordon Prentice

 

Mr Charles Walker

 

Julie Morgan

 

David Heyes

 

Total signatories: 8

 

49

 

Page  6,  line  32  [Clause  10],  at end insert—

 

‘(6)    

Provision within subsection (3)(a) applies only to a selection if—

 

(a)    

the Secretary of State has informed the Commission of his intention to

 

apply the provision, and

 

(b)    

there would be no more than three people in post who were selected in

 

reliance on subsection (3)(a), were the person to be appointed.’.

 


 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

4

 

Page  8,  line  34  [Clause  15],  at end insert—

 

‘(e)    

those terms and conditions prohibit P from undertaking restricted

 

duties.’.

 



 
 

Consideration of Bill: 2 March 2010                     

1188

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, continued

 
 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

5

 

Page  9,  line  3  [Clause  15],  at end insert—

 

‘(d)    

those terms and conditions prohibit P from undertaking restricted

 

duties.’.

 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

6

 

Page  9,  line  16  [Clause  15],  at end insert—

 

‘(d)    

those terms and conditions prohibit P from undertaking restricted

 

duties.’.

 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

7

 

Page  9,  line  23  [Clause  15],  at end insert—

 

‘(3)    

The following are restricted duties—

 

(a)    

authorising the expenditure of public funds;

 

(b)    

exercising any power given by or under an Act of Parliament or an Act

 

of the Scottish Parliament;

 

(c)    

exercising any function relating to the appraisal, reward, promotion or

 

disciplining of civil servants in any part of the Civil Service (including a

 

part of the Civil Service to which this Act does not apply).’.

 


 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

36

 

Page  12,  line  35  [Clause  22],  leave out subsection (12) and insert—

 

‘( )    

Section 75(5) of the Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74) and Article 71(5) of the Race

 

Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/869 (N.I. 6)) apply in relation

 

to rules under subsection (7) above as they apply in relation to rules under

 

subsection (1) above (so far as they would not otherwise apply).

 

( )    

In section 75(5)(b) of that Act and Article 71(5)(b) of that Order any reference to

 

the implementation of rules includes (in particular) a reference to granting (or

 

refusing to grant) exemptions under subsection (10)(b) above.’.

 


 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

37

 

Page  13,  line  1  [Clause  22],  leave out ‘limits any power’ and insert ‘affects—

 

(a)    

section 82 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30),

 

(b)    

section 41(3A) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (c. 32), or

 

(c)    

any power’.

 



 
 

Consideration of Bill: 2 March 2010                     

1189

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, continued

 
 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

38

 

Page  14,  line  36  [Clause  27],  leave out ‘section 788 of the Income and Corporation

 

Taxes Act 1988 (c. 1)’ and insert ‘section 2 of the Taxation (International and Other

 

Provisions) Act 2010 (c. )’.

 


 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

27

 

Page  15,  line  19  [Clause  29],  leave out ‘31 October’ and insert ‘30 May’.

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

51

 

Page  15,  line  22  [Clause  29],  at end insert ‘top-up’.

 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

32

 

Page  15,  line  24  [Clause  29],  leave out paragraph (b) and insert—

 

‘(b)    

submit to the Electoral Commission for its approval the question to be

 

asked in the referendum (and any statement that is to precede the

 

question);

 

(c)    

by order made by statutory instrument fix the date of the poll.’.

 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

33

 

Page  15,  line  27  [Clause  29],  leave out ‘specified under’ and insert ‘referred to in’.

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

52

 

Page  15,  line  28  [Clause  29],  after ‘alternative-vote’, insert ‘top-up’.

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

53

 

Page  15,  line  31  [Clause  29],  at end insert—

 

‘(3A)    

In this section and in Schedule [Election of Regional Members to the House of

 

Commons] “alternative-vote top-up system” means a system under which—

 

(a)    

eighty per cent. of Members of the House of Commons are returned from

 

constituencies under the “alternative-vote system”;

 

(b)    

twenty per cent. of Members of this House are returned from regions on

 

a “top-up list system”.’.

 



 
 

Consideration of Bill: 2 March 2010                     

1190

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, continued

 
 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

34

 

Page  16,  line  16  [Clause  29],  leave out subsection (7).

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

54

 

Page  16,  line  18  [Clause  29],  at end insert—

 

‘(7A)    

In this section, a “top-up list system” means a system under which—

 

(a)    

regions shall be constituted of no fewer than six and no more than 10

 

constituencies; and

 

(b)    

for each region, candidates are returned for regions according to the rules

 

laid out in Schedule [Election of Regional Members to the House of

 

Commons].’.

 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

28

 

Page  16  [Clause  29],  leave out lines 19 to 24.

 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

39

 

Page  16,  line  32  [Clause  30],  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

Subsection (1) has effect subject to any provision that may be made, in an order

 

under section [Conduct etc of referendum], for disregarding alterations made in a

 

register of electors after a specified date.’.

 


 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

40

 

Page  35,  line  41  [Clause  64],  leave out paragraph (b).

 


 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

41

 

Page  43,  line  11  [Clause  80],  leave out from ‘14.1’ to end of line 12.

 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

42

 

Page  43,  line  37  [Clause  80],  at end insert—

 

‘(4)    

In section 94(6)(a) of, and paragraph 6Z of Schedule 5 to, the Government of

 

Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) for “paragraphs 1 to 6” substitute “paragraphs 1 to 6A”.’.

 



 
 

Consideration of Bill: 2 March 2010                     

1191

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, continued

 
 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

57

 

Page  48,  line  37,  leave out Clause 86.

 


 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

43

 

Page  50,  line  11  [Clause  90],  leave out paragraph (d) and insert—

 

‘( )    

the provisions of this Part other than section [Electoral Commission

 

accounts in relation to specified matters]’.

 

David Howarth

 

Mr David Heath

 

29

 

Page  50,  line  11  [Clause  90],  at end insert—

 

‘(e)    

section [Dates of future general elections].’.

 


 

Dr Tony Wright

 

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger

 

Mr Gordon Prentice

 

Mr Charles Walker

 

Julie Morgan

 

David Heyes

 

Total signatories: 8

 

NS2

 

To move the following Schedule:—

 

‘House of Lords Appointments Commission

 

Membership of the Commission

 

1    (1)  

The Commission shall consist of seven members, including the Chairman.

 

      (2)  

Members of the Commission, including the Chairman, shall serve for a non-

 

renewable term of five years.

 

      (3)  

Members of the Commission, including the Chairman, may be removed by the

 

Crown on an address by both Houses of Parliament.

 

      (4)  

Members of the Commission, including the Chairman, may resign.

 

      (5)  

If a member of the Commission resigns or otherwise ceases to be a member of

 

the Commission before the expiring of their term the member appointed to

 

replace the former member shall serve for the remainder of the term of that

 

former member and may be re-appointed for one further term.

 

      (6)  

The terms on which the Chairman of the Commission or a member of the

 

Commission holds office are to be determined by the Minister for the Civil

 

Service.


 
 

Consideration of Bill: 2 March 2010                     

1192

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, continued

 
 

Appointment of the Chairman of the Commission

 

2    (1)  

The Chairman of the Commission shall be appointed by Her Majesty on the

 

recommendation of the Prime Minister.

 

      (2)  

A person’s selection for recommendation under sub-paragraph (1) must be on

 

merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

 

      (3)  

A person recommended under sub-paragraph (1) shall be independent of any

 

political party.

 

      (4)  

No-one shall be nominated under sub-paragraph (1) if at any time in the

 

preceding two years he—

 

(a)    

has been a member of a registered political party;

 

(b)    

has given public support, by way of public speaking or appearance, to

 

a registered political party; or

 

(c)    

has made a financial donation to any registered political party.

 

      (5)  

Before recommending a person the Prime Minister must seek the agreement of

 

the relevant party leaders.

 

      (6)  

A relevant leader of a political party is the registered leader of a registered

 

political party which had the highest, second highest or third highest national

 

vote at the previous parliamentary general election.

 

Appointment of non-party members of the Commission

 

3    (1)  

Three members of the Commission shall be appointed by Her Majesty on the

 

recommendation of the Prime Minister.

 

      (2)  

A person’s selection for recommendation under sub-paragraph (1) must be on

 

merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

 

      (3)  

Members recommended under sub-paragraph (1) shall be independent of any

 

political party.

 

      (4)  

No-on shall be recommended under sub-paragraph (1) if at any time in the

 

preceding two years he—

 

(a)    

has been a member of a registered political party;

 

(b)    

has given public support, by way of public speaking or appearance, to

 

a registered political party; or

 

(c)    

has made a financial donation to any registered political party.

 

Appointment of party members of the Commission

 

4    (1)  

Three members of the Commission shall be appointed by Her Majesty on the

 

recommendation of the relevant leaders of political parties.

 

      (2)  

A relevant leader of a political party is the registered leader of a registered

 

political party which had the highest, second highest or third highest national

 

vote at the previous parliamentary general election.

 

      (3)  

Each relevant leader may only recommend one person for nomination to Her

 

Majesty.

 

      (4)  

No-one shall be recommended under sub-paragraph (3) who is a Minister of

 

the Crown or holder of a national office in any registered political party.

 

Payment of remuneration and allowances etc.

 

5    (1)  

The terms mentioned in paragraph 1(6) may provide for the Commission—

 

(a)    

to pay remuneration and allowances to the person appointed;

 

(b)    

to make provision for a pension in relation to that person.

 

      (2)  

The Commission must make the payments or provision accordingly.


 
 

Consideration of Bill: 2 March 2010                     

1193

 

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, continued

 
 

Resignation or removal from office

 

6    (1)  

This paragraph is about resignation or removal from office of the Chairman or

 

a member of the Commission.

 

      (2)  

A person may resign from office by giving written notice to the Minister for

 

the Civil Service.

 

      (3)  

Her Majesty may, on the recommendation of the Minister, remove a person

 

from office if a condition in sub-paragraph (4) is met.

 

      (4)  

The conditions are that—

 

(a)    

the person is absent from three successive meetings of the

 

Commission without the Commission’s approval;

 

(b)    

the person is convicted of an offence (see sub-paragraph (5));

 

(c)    

the person becomes bankrupt (see sub-paragraph (6));

 

(d)    

the person is unfit or unable to carry out the functions of the office.

 

      (5)  

For the purposes of determining if a person is convicted of an offence—

 

(a)    

it does not matter where the person is convicted;

 

(b)    

an act punishable under the law of a territory outside the United

 

Kingdom constitutes an offence for the purposes of this paragraph

 

(however it is described in that law).

 

      (6)  

A person becomes bankrupt if—

 

(a)    

in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, a bankruptcy order is made

 

in relation to the person, or

 

(b)    

in Scotland, the person’s estate is sequestrated.

 

Compensation for loss of office of Chairman of the Commission or a member of the

 

Commission

 

7    (1)  

The Minister for the Civil Service may direct the Commission to pay

 

compensation if—

 

(a)    

a person ceases to hold office as Chairman of the Commission or a

 

member of the Commission, and

 

(b)    

the Minister is satisfied that, because of the circumstances in which the

 

person ceased to hold office, compensation should be paid to the

 

person.

 

Status of the Commission and its property

 

8    (1)  

The Commission (including its members and employees) is not to be

 

regarded—

 

(a)    

as the servant or agent of the Crown,

 

(b)    

or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown.

 

      (2)  

The Commission’s property is not to be regarded as property of, or held on

 

behalf of, the Crown.

 

Powers

 

9    (1)  

The Commission may do anything calculated to facilitate, or be incidental or

 

conducive to, the carrying out of any of its functions.

 

      (2)  

But the Commission may not borrow money except with the agreement of the

 

Minister for the Civil Service.

 

      (3)  

Nothing in this Schedule which specifies powers of the Commission limits the

 

generality of sub-paragraph (1).


 
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