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UK Parliament

Decisions 29 March 2011

Tuesday 29 March 2011 at 4.30pm in Speaker's House

Present:

The Speaker, in the Chair
Rt Hon Hilary Benn
Sir Paul Beresford
Frank Doran
John Thurso
Sir George Young (Leader of the House)

 

1.  INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DIRECTORATE

The Commission agreed:

  • that the International Relations Directorate should not be established on 1 April as planned;
  • that decisions on the future funding arrangements for BGIPU and CPA UK should be further considered, and that meanwhile the payment of grant for the first quarter of 2011/12 should be postponed, without prejudice to the final decision on the funding of the two organisations for 2011/12;
  •  that the House should remain the contracting authority for the CPA Conference in London in July, and that a memorandum of understanding should be reached with CPA UK on the governance arrangements for the conference;
  • that the organisations which had been intended to form part of the IRD should be invited to make proposals on how the benefits of greater coherence, value for money and transparency in the House's international activities can be achieved by other means.

2.  RESETTLEMENT GRANT (MEC)

The Committee agreed that Resettlement Grant should not be paid to any former Member convicted of an offence of dishonesty relating to Members' allowances.

3.  LATE APPEAL AGAINST DECISION OF ACA REVIEW (MEC)

The Committee agreed a report to the House about a late appeal against a decision made by Sir Thomas Legg in his review of past ACA payments, and appended the appeal outcome to the report.

4.  ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS IN RESPECT OF THE EQUALITY ACT 2010

The Commission agreed that the Legal Services Office could assist Members in defending themselves as service providers against proceedings under the Equality Act 2010, subject to review if the number of cases is substantial.  It also agreed that Mr Speaker should write to IPSA about the support available to Members in employment tribunal and other cases.

5.  PAY REMIT FOR SENIOR COMMONS OFFICIALS

The Commission agreed the pay remit for senior Commons staff for 2011/12 and 2012/13.

6.  UK YOUTH PARLIAMENT

The Commission noted its earlier agreement, made by correspondence, to provide limited additional help to the UK Youth Parliament in 2011/12 from existing resources, consisting of £30,000 from the existing education budget towards travel costs for the annual sitting in the Chamber, two or three desks on the Parliamentary Estate and some administrative support drawing on volunteers from the House Service.

7.  CORPORATE BUSINESS PLAN 2011/12

The Commission approved the Corporate Business Plan for 2011/12.

8.  DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Commission/MEC will take place on Monday 16 May at 4.30pm in Speaker's House.