Select Committee on Procedure of the House Fourth Report


FOURTH Report of Session 2005-06 from the Procedure Committee


INTERESTS OF THE LORD SPEAKER

1.  The new Lord Speaker will be subject to the House's Code of Conduct, and to the same requirements as any other Lord in respect of the registration and declaration of interests. We recommend however that the Lord Speaker should be subject to certain additional requirements in this area. This was not a matter considered by either of the Select Committees on the Speakership of the House. We recommend as follows.

2.  The Lord Speaker will be expected to lay aside financial interests in the following categories. The list is based on paragraph 12 of the House's Code of Conduct.

(a)  Any consultancy agreement to provide parliamentary advice or services;

(b)  employment or any other financial interest in businesses involved in parliamentary lobbying on behalf of clients, including public relations and law firms;

(c)  any remunerated service provided by virtue of his or her position as a member of Parliament;

(d)  employment as a non-parliamentary consultant;

(e)  remunerated directorships;

(f)  remunerated employment (including occasional income from speeches, lecturing, broadcasting and journalism);

(g)  provision by an outside body of secretarial and research assistance;

(h)  visits with costs paid in the United Kingdom and overseas, made as a member of Parliament, except any visits paid for from public funds, and except for minor hospitality.

3.  The Lord Speaker will be expected to lay aside any party or group affiliation on appointment, and to refrain from political activity, including voting in the House.

4.  As is the case in respect of the House's Code of Conduct, the Registrar of Lords' Interests will be available to advise. The Registrar shall consult the Sub-Committee on Lords' Interests of the Committee for Privileges when necessary. A Lord Speaker who acts on the advice of the Registrar will satisfy these requirements fully.

5.  We propose no requirement to lay aside shareholdings, and no special requirements in relation to the interests of a spouse, relative or friend.

ELECTION OF THE LORD SPEAKER: ELECTION ADDRESSES

6.  We recommend that, as for the original election of hereditary peers under the House of Lords Act 1999, each candidate should be allowed to submit to the Clerk of the Parliaments an election address of up to 75 words in support of his or her candidacy. The Clerk will circulate these, along with a statement of each candidate's parliamentary service (as recommended by the second Select Committee on the Speakership of the House, paragraph 39) and their entry in the Register of Lords' Interests. Candidates should not circulate any election material themselves, or through agents or supporters.

PROCESSIONS INVOLVING THE LORD SPEAKER

7.  We recommend the following scheme of processions for the Lord Speaker. It is based closely on present practice.

8.  Before each day's sitting the Lord Speaker will walk in procession from his or her room to the Chamber, preceded by the Mace. The procession will consist of a Doorkeeper, followed by the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms or Principal Doorkeeper bearing the Mace, followed by the Lord Speaker. In the Prince's Chamber, Black Rod will join the end of the procession.

9.  At a break in a sitting, a Doorkeeper will lead the Lord Speaker to and from his or her office.

10.  For the procedure when a Deputy Speaker opens a sitting, when a sitting follows a judicial sitting, and at the end of a sitting, we recommend no change.

THE LORD SPEAKER'S DRESS

11.  The House has agreed to the recommendation of the second Select Committee on the Speakership of the House "that the Speaker should wear a gown, but not a wig. On ceremonial occasions he should wear his Parliamentary robes" (paragraph 52).

12.  For sittings of the House, we recommend a gown without a train, like that worn by Clerks at the Table and QCs. Under the gown, and for other official duties outside the Chamber when a gown would not be suitable, we recommend that he or she should wear court dress.

13.  For State occasions and similar ceremonies outside the Chamber, when Parliamentary robes might be unsuitable, we recommend that the Lord Speaker should have a black and gold robe (without a train).


 
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