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What Happens During a Dissolution of Parliament?
Last updated: 5 April 2005
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Update
5 April 2005: Update
3 March 2005 Update
14 February 2005: |
“Dissolution Arrangements” – a document prepared by the Clerk of the House – is now available and we recommend you view it as soon as possible. It can be located using the site index on the Parliamentary Intranet, under "Dissolution". The document will be distributed to Members in hard-copy once the timing of dissolution is known.
W4MP is delighted to see that this information has been made available well before the General Election. Over the past year we have had a large number of requests from Staff for full information on what happens when the Dissolution is called and we have been pressing for a summary for some months now. We think you will find the document useful and recommend strongly that you access it and print it out now.
We are not allowed to publish the whole document here but we have put together a Contents List, which gives you a clear indication of what is covered. Although it is written for Members, Staff will find most of very useful.
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Message from the Clerk of the House: ”Following requests from Members for early notice of the arrangements which will pertain on the dissolution of the House, a document setting out the arrangements, which has been issued by the Clerk of the House, with the endorsement of the Electoral Commission and after consultation with the Information Committee in relation to IT and communication services, has been published on the parliamentary intranet.” |
DISSOLUTION ARRANGEMENTS PAPER - LIST OF CONTENTS
1. Purpose
[Quoted in full]
“The purpose of this memorandum is to inform Members of the regulations which are applied during the dissolution of Parliament. The essential principle to be observed is that all those who were Members before dissolution become “ex-Members” as soon as the House is formally dissolved. They therefore cease to be entitled to use the facilities provided by the House for Members and, except as specified below, all services to ex-Members and their staff will stop at 5.00 pm on the day of dissolution.
“Members are reminded that, during the Dissolution
period, all House resources and allowances may only be used for the purpose
of carrying out their parliamentary/constituency duties. Any funding from
these allowances for activities in connection with the forthcoming General
Election or any political campaigning or party political activity is
therefore not permissible.”
2. Parliamentary
salaries, allowances and travel
This section covers: Incidental Expenses Provision (IEP);
advice on disclaimers to be put on any website or web pages funded wholly or
in part from allowances; Member’s Salary; Staffing allowance, including
taking holiday or unpaid leave in order to campaign; Additional Costs
Allowance (ACA); Travel Allowances.
3. Data
protection and handling casework and records when Parliament is dissolved
4. IT and
related services
This section covers: Suspension of Access to the
Parliamentary Network (PN) and Email; Use of a commercial email provider;
Withdrawal of Remote Access; Internet facilities (Access, Members’
websites, Post election, Equipment, Members standing for re-election,
Support).
5. Telephones
Withdrawal of services; Voicemail; Messages.
6. Accommodation
7. Stationery
and correspondence
Use of House emblems, stationery, post
paid envelopes; mail holding or forwarding.
8. Car
park
9. Catering
facilities
10. Information services
This section covers: Library; Information Office;
Parliamentary Recording Unit; Vote Office; Parliamentary Bookshop.
11. Procedural Services
The main offices in the Clerk’s Department – including the Committee Office, Table Office and the Public and Private Bill Office – are closed from dissolution until the new Parliament assembles.
12. Other services
This section covers: Room bookings; Gallery tickets;
Tours (including Clock Tower tours); Exhibitions; Travel Office; Gym.
13. Members’ staff [Quoted in full]
“Staff of ex-Members, and the staff of the Whips’ Offices, may enter the Precincts to collect papers, mail, etc, but will not be allowed to work in the Precincts as they will no longer be officially employed by a Member of Parliament. The rooms of the staff of ex-Members will be locked. Telephone calls may not be made from the Precincts during the period of dissolution.”
14. Lobby journalists
ANNEX A: MEMBERS
NOT STANDING AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION
1. IT and
related services
2. Accommodation
3. Data
protection and handling casework and records when Parliament is dissolved
4. Financial
Matters
ANNEX B: EX-MEMBERS
NOT RETURNED AT THE GENERAL ELECTION
1. Accommodation
and facilities
2. IT and
related services
3. Data
protection and handling casework and records when Parliament is dissolved
4. Financial Matters
REMINDER:
The full document can be located using the site index
on the Parliamentary Intranet, under "Dissolution".
