Speaker announces Chairman of Advisory Council
25 January 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
In a speech to the Hansard Society/Political Studies Association on November 30, 2009, John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, announced an intention to form a Speaker’s Advisory Council on Public Engagement.
This body would consist of skilled external volunteers who would provide advice on various aspects of the House’s outreach efforts including working with schools, promoting Parliament within the universities, tours of the House of Commons, dealing with organisations representing civic society in Westminster and beyond and the website. It would not deal with matters that belong to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
The Speaker is delighted to announce that Andy Street, Managing Director of John Lewis, has agreed to be the (unpaid) Chairman of this organisation. The rest of the Council membership will be established in the next few weeks and an initial meeting held in March.
Mr Bercow said:
"I am very pleased that Andy Street has agreed to afford the House of Commons the benefit of his expertise. I am sure that the Council will play a valuable role in assisting the House of Commons with its public engagement programme."
Further information
Contact: Tim Hames
Tel: 020 7219 2007