UK Parliament — House of Commons

Whenever the House has been informed by the Clerk at the Table of the unavoidable absence or the absence by leave of the House both of the Speaker, and of the Chairman of Ways and Means, the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means shall perform the duties and exercise the authority of the Speaker in accordance with paragraph (2) of this order; and if the House should be so informed of the unavoidable absence or the absence by leave of the House of the First Deputy Chairman also, the Second Deputy Chairman shall perform those duties and exercise that authority.

The Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means shall not perform the duties and exercise the authority of the Speaker in accordance with paragraph (2) of this order, unless the House has been informed by the Clerk at the Table of the unavoidable absence both of Mr. Speaker and of the Chairman of Ways and Means.