House of Commons Commission bulletin – 27 October 2014

Governance of Security for Parliament

The Commission welcomed a Report by Sir Paul Jenkins on the Governance of Security for Parliament. The aim of the review was to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current arrangements and to make recommendations. The Commission expressed its support for the general thrust of the review's conclusions and agreed to consider urgently proposals for implementing the recommended changes relating to management of and responsibility for security functions.

Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster

The Commission has previously agreed that a decision on how to proceed with Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster will be taken in the next parliament. In October 2012 the Commission requested an Independent Options Appraisal that would provide objective evidence on which to base that decision. The Commission has now agreed that, when complete, the Independent Options Appraisal and accompanying documentation should be published in June/July 2015. The Commission also supported a proposal that a small Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster should be established around the same time to develop a proposed way forward for consideration by the two Houses.

Audit Committee Reports

The Administration Estimate Audit Committee and Members Estimate Audit Committee are sub-committees of the House of Commons Commission and the Members Estimate Committee respectively. They were established to advise the Commission/MEC and the Accounting Officer on matters relating to audit of the two Estimates.  The Committee's annual reports for 2014/15 were presented by John Thurso. The reports have already been published as appendices to the Commission Annual Report.

Observations on matters in the bulletin or other aspects of the House's administration should be sent to twiggerrj@parliament.uk for the attention of the Commission.

Commission membership

Mr Speaker (Chair), Sir Paul Beresford, Frank Doran, Angela Eagle, William Hague (Leader of the House) and John Thurso.