Decisions 25 June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012 at 5pm in Speaker's House
Present:
The Speaker, in the Chair
Sir Paul Beresford
Frank Doran
Angela Eagle
John Thurso
Sir George Young (Leader of the House)
1. ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Commission received an oral presentation from the Chair of the Administration Committee and Mr Dave Watts MP on the Committee's reports on Visitor Access and Facilities and Television: Rules of Coverage.
2. POSSIBLE DEBATE ON THE ESTIMATE AND SAVINGS PROGRAMME
The Commission agreed that it would seek a debate in October on the draft House of Commons: Administration Estimate and the House's Medium-term Financial Plan.
3. PRINT TO WEB
The Commission agreed a package of changes to printing, publishing and purchasing arrangements relating to the House's business papers and official publications.
4. STATIONERY AND PRE-PAID ENVELOPES (Commission/MEC)
The Commission agreed to increase the expenditure cap on Member's stationery from to £7,000 to £8,650 as a consequence of the significant increase in Royal Mail postage charges. The Commission and the Committee agreed that these costs should be met from the Members' Estimate from 2013/14.
5. CLOCK TOWER: RENAMING
The Commission welcomed the proposal to rename the Clock Tower Elizabeth Tower in recognition of HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and would arrange for this decision to be implemented in an appropriate manner in due course.
6. MEMBER'S DEBTS (MEC)
The Committee recommended to the Accounting Officer that, in view of the failure of many attempts to persuade Marsha Singh to repay the sum of £778.38 recommended for repayment by Sir Thomas Legg and a catering debt of £401.70, and the likely cost and difficulty of any further action, the sum of £1,180.08 should be written off.
7. ALCOHOL POLICY
The Commission considered advice it had received from the Administration Committee.
8. COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT 2011/12
The Commission agreed the text of its annual report subject to minor amendments.
9. ADDITIONAL SUMMER WORKS
The Committee took note of the paper.
10. DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
The Commission agreed to meet on 19 November and 10 December in addition to the dates already agreed.
11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Commission/MEC will take place on Monday 16 July at 4.30pm in Speaker's House.