A2 procedural competency – expected knowledge

NB: The following assumes access to the usual procedural resources available to clerks.

Order Paper and the Chamber

 Know the usual structure of the Parliamentary day, including what business usually happens at what times.  Be able to use standing orders to say how long something will be debated for in usual cases.  Be able to use the Order Paper to answer questions about what is likely to happen on a particular day.  Understand what the moment of interruption is and be able to work out what business can be taken after it in clear cases.  Know what happens when a division is deferred.  Be able to answer common questions that happen during divisions.  Understand what a Business of the House motion is and its effect.  Understand how debates are structured (moved/proposed/debated/put/decision).  Know the difference between things being debatable and put forthwith.  Know what Westminster Hall is for and how Members secure debates.  Understand the significance of the V&P.

The parliamentary year

 Be able to describe the things that happen regularly in Parliament (Queen’s speech, the Estimates process, the Budget, prorogation).  Understand the difference between recess and sitting time.  Understand the effect of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.

Motions

 Understand the concept of a motion, and have an awareness of the main rules for content (e.g. not criticising the Monarch, hon. Members etc. unless on a substantive motion) and title (neutral).  Know what an EDM is and what it is used for.

Questions

 Be able to describe the different kinds of questions (oral, topical, supplementary, ordinary written, named day written).  Know the main rules of order for questions (Basis, Neutrally phrased, seeking not providing information, sub judice, readily available, responsibility, interpretation of the law, seeking opinion) and be able to tell when questions are out of order in simpler cases.  Be aware of the mechanics of tabling questions (12.30 cut-off for orals, rules relating to authority).

Bills

 Know the stages of a Bill, including an awareness of the new EVEL procedures.  Understand the main rules of order for amendments to Bills; know what a reasoned amendment is; be able to explain why amendments would be selected or not.  Know the usual deadlines for tabling amendments to Bills.  Understand why amendments are grouped and be able to make an attempt at simple groupings.  Understand the order of proceedings in a Public Bill Committee.  Know the difference between a Public and Private Bill.  Understand how Members can come to have Private Members Bills, and be able to advise them on their progress.  Understand the relationship between the Commons and the Lords as it applies to Bills, including financial privilege and the Parliament Acts.  Have an awareness of programming and its effect on Bill proceedings.

Petitions and papers

 Understand main rules of Order for a petition.  Know what an SI is.  Understand the different kinds of procedure for an SI, and know what a prayer is.

Parliament and the Constitution

 Understand the sub judice resolution and broadly when it applies. Be able to apply the resolution to practical queries.  Understand the concept of parliamentary privilege, including qualified privilege, and be able to answer questions about how privilege relates to practical situations, including Select Committee evidence and proceedings.  Be able to describe the main institutions of the European Union; understand the role of the European Scrutiny Committee and how Parliament scrutinises European documents.

General Committees

 Have the knowledge required to clerk a Delegated Legislation Committee and a European Committee (structure, quorum, who can speak/vote, length of proceedings, dealing with disruption, dealing with multiple instruments (DLs), taking divisions, dealing with amendments (Euro).  Be able to advise on the Chair’s casting vote.  Know what a dilatory motion is and how to deal with it.

Select Committees

 Understand the powers of a Select Committee Chair, and how Select Committee Chairs are appointed.  Know the role of non-departmental Select Committees (PAC, Standards, Privilege, Procedure Committee, Petitions Committee etc.).  (As above, be able to advise on the operation of parliamentary privilege in Select Committees.)  Be able to advise on Report agreement and preside over a division if necessary.  Be able to clerk a simpler Select Committee meeting and answer questions relating to practice and procedure that are reasonably likely to arise.

General

 Understand the role of different procedural offices and be able to direct more difficult queries to the right place.  Be able to advise Members on how to raise a particular issue or grievance in Parliament.  Be able to apply the knowledge above to comment usefully on proposals for procedural changes (i.e. if a proposal is made, have the ability to comment on its possible implications, not have an awareness of current proposals for change).