§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement outlining the relationship between the Commission and the domestic House Committees, indicating how their reports are considered; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BeithUnder the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978, the Commission is responsible for the appointment of staff of the House and for laying before the House the Estimates for House of Commons: Administration and House of Commons: Works Services. The work of the Commission in carrying out its responsibilities is described in its annual reports presented to the House, most recently on 16 July 1992 (HC 155).
The Finance and Services Committee has responsibility for detailed consideration of financial matters, including questions of priority for expenditure. It prepares draft estimates with the assistance of the board of management for submission to the Commission. The main role of the domestic committees, apart from their consumer role in advising on the delivery of services by House Departments, is to make policy recommendations to the Speaker and the Commission as appropriate. The recommendations are then considered as necessary by the Finance and Services Committee in advance of final decisions being taken by the Commission.
The Commission operates a long-standing policy of requiring the introduction of a major new service to be approved by the House before provision is made for it in the estimates. The occasion for such a debate would normally be the consideration of a report from the relevant domestic committee.