House of Commons Commission decisions – 7 April 2014

Present:

• The Speaker, in the Chair
• Sir Paul Beresford
• Frank Doran
• Mr Andrew Lansley (Leader of the House)

General Election Planning

The Commission took note of the House’s preparations for the 2015 General Election and approved the draft dissolution guidance.

Support for Members' staff

The Committee met representatives of the Parliamentary Staff Branch of Unite and the Members and Peers Staff Association; agreed to subscribe to an independent Employee Assistance Programme on behalf of Members’ staff; and agreed that, following the general election, advice on employment matters should be proactively offered to new Members.

Concordance of Resolutions and Postage

The Committee:

• agreed that the allowance for Members’ stationery and postage-paid envelopes should increase from £8,650 to £9,000 to offset recent increases in postage charges; and
• agreed the text of a revised "Concordance" of resolutions relating to expenditure charged to the Members Estimate. (Formal minutes will be published in the report.)

Employment matters

The Commission welcomed that the House had achieved its milestones for full accreditation by Citizens UK as a London Living Wage Employer. The Commission also took note of papers from the Director of Finance and Director General, Human Resources and Change.

Corporate Business Plan 2014/15–2016/17 

The Commission amended and approved the House Service’s Corporate Business Plan 2014/15–2016/17.

Any other business 

None.

Date of next meeting 

The next meeting of the Commission/MEC will take place on Monday 19 May at 5.00 pm in Speaker’s House.