UK Parliament — House of Commons

Whenever the House shall be informed by the Clerk at the Table of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of Ways and Means shall perform the duties and exercise the authority of Speaker in relation to all proceedings of this House, as Deputy Speaker, until the next meeting of the House, and so on from day to day, on the like information being given to the House, until the House shall otherwise order: Provided that if the House shall adjourn for more than twenty-four hours the Deputy Speaker shall continue to perform the duties and exercise the authority of Speaker for twenty-four hours only after such adjournment.

At the commencement of every Parliament, or from time to time, as necessity may arise, the House may appoint a Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means, who shall be entitled to exercise all the powers vested in the Chairman of Ways and Means, including his powers as Deputy Speaker.

The Chairman of Ways and Means or the Deputy Chairman shall take the chair as Deputy Speaker, when requested so to do by Mr. Speaker, without any formal communication to the House.

Mr. Speaker shall nominate, at the commencement of every session, a Chairmen's Panel of not less than ten members to act as temporary chairmen of committees when requested by the Chairman of Ways and Means.

That whenever the House shall be informed by the Clerk at the Table of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means do perform the duties and exercise the authority of Speaker in relation to all proceedings of this House, as Deputy Speaker, until the next meeting of the House, and so on from day to day, on the like information being given to the House, until the House shall otherwise order; provided that if the House shall adjourn for more than twenty-four hours, the Deputy Speaker shall continue to perform the duties and exercise the authority of Speaker for twenty-four hours only after such adjournment.