1 Introduction
1. Since its creation, one of the functions of
the Finance and Services Committee has been to prepare a draft
Estimate (the annual financial provision) for the House of Commons
Administration, with the assistance of the Management Board. The
draft Estimate is submitted to the House of Commons Commission,
which has the responsibility under the House of Commons (Administration)
Act 1978 of laying the Estimate before the House of Commons alongside
the estimates for Government departments.
2. On 20 March 2013 the House agreed changes
to Standing Orders Nos. 144 and 152D that require the Members
Estimate Committee to agree the Estimate for the House of Commons
Members before it is laid by HM Treasury, and require the Finance
and Services Committee to prepare that Estimate with the assistance
of the Accounting Officer (the Clerk of the House).
3. For the benefit of the House, this report
summarises the evidence that has been considered by the Committee
and sets out its provisional advice to the Commission and the
Members Estimate Committee on the 2014/15 Estimates for Administration
and Members respectively.
4. This is the second year that the Committee
has published such a report. On 8 November 2012 the House of Commons
debated a motion to endorse the draft Administration Estimate
for 2013/14, and it is the intention of the Committee to seek
an opportunity for a similar debate this year.
5. The appendices to this report summarise the
advice that the Committee has received from the Management Board
on the medium-term plan for the House's finances and on progress
with the various strands of the Savings Programme. This material
has provided the background for the Committee's consideration
of the draft Estimate.
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