4C1 The House Departments.
1
In this Act “House Departments” means—
a
the Department of the Clerk of the House of Commons,
b
the Department of the Speaker,
c
the Department of the Serjeant at Arms,
d
the Department of the Library,
e
the Administration Department,
f
the Department of the Official Report of the House of Commons,
and any other House Department provided for under subsection (3) below.
2
In this section “the Department of the Official Report of the House of Commons” means that branch of the Department of the Speaker which immediately before the passing of this Act had the function of producing that report, and accordingly on that passing that branch shall become a separate department and shall cease to be part of the Department of the Speaker, without prejudice however to any power exercisable by the Commission in relation to either department under subsection (3) below.
3
The Commission may from time to time—
a
increase or reduce the number of House Departments,
b
allocate functions to any House Department,
c
for those purposes make such arrangements for and in connection with the creation, division, amalgamation or abolition of any House Department (including one created after the passing of this Act) as appear to the Commission expedient.
C24
The Commission may from time to time direct that all or any of the provisions of this Act relating to staff in the House Departments shall apply to any office or post which is not in a House Department but falls within subsection (5) below, and to the staff appointed, or to be appointed, to any such office or post, and may further direct that the holder of any such office or post shall be treated as having been appointed by the Commission.
5
An office or post falls within this subsection if staff appointed to it are employed in or for the purposes of the House of Commons.
6
Subsection (4) above does not apply to the power to appoint, or the tenure of office of, Mr. Speaker’s personal staff.