Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019

Section 8

SCHEDULE 3 The Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission

Membership

1 (1) The Estimates Commission is to consist of—

(a) two persons appointed from amongst the members of the House of Commons (“Commons members”), and

(b) two persons appointed from amongst the members of the House of Lords (“Lords members”).

(2) A person may not be appointed as a member of the Estimates Commission if the person is—

(a) a Minister of the Crown,

(b) a Parliamentary member of the Sponsor Body, or

(c) a director of the Delivery Authority.

(3) The appointment of a member of the Estimates Commission does not have effect unless it is confirmed by a resolution of the House of Parliament from which the person is drawn.

Removal from office

2 (1) A person ceases to be a member of the Estimates Commission—

(a) on becoming a Minister of the Crown,

(b) on the passing of a resolution to that effect by the relevant House,

(c) on ceasing to be a member of the relevant House (subject to sub-paragraph (4)),

(d) if the relevant House orders the suspension of the member from the service of that House for a specified period of the requisite length, or

(e) in the case of a Lords member, the member is granted leave of absence in accordance with Standing Orders of the House of Lords.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d) a specified period is “of the requisite length” if—

(a) where the period is expressed as a number of sitting days, it is a period of at least 10 sitting days, or

(b) in any other case, the period (however expressed) is a period of at least 14 days.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d) it does not matter—

(a) when the period of suspension starts, and

(b) where that period is expressed as a number of sitting days, what provision (if any) is made by the relevant House regarding what does, or does not, count as a sitting day for the purpose of calculating that period.

(4) Where a Commons member ceases to be a member of the House of Commons on the dissolution of Parliament prior to a Parliamentary general election—

(a) sub-paragraph (1)(c) does not apply, and

(b) unless the person is re-elected to the House of Commons at the election, the person ceases to be a member of the Estimates Commission—

(i) on the appointment of a new Commons member in the person’s place, or

(ii) if no new Commons member is appointed, at the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the person ceases to be a member of the House of Commons.

(5) For the purposes of this Schedule (other than this paragraph), a person is to be treated as a member of the House of Commons for any period during which—

(a) the person continues to be a member of the Estimates Commission as a result of sub-paragraph (4)(a), and

(b) is not a member of the House of Commons.

(6) In this paragraph “the relevant House”, in relation to a member of the Estimates Commission, means the House of Parliament from which the member is drawn.

Procedure etc

3 (1) A meeting of the Estimates Commission is only quorate if at least one Commons member and one Lords member are present.

(2) Subject to that, the Estimates Commission may regulate its own procedure.

4 The Estimates Commission may not make payments to any of its members or to any other person or otherwise incur any expenditure.

Freedom of information

5 In Part 6 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (other public bodies and offices which are public authorities) at the appropriate place insert—

• “The Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission.”