Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Indemnity for Petition Officers at Recall Petitions

27 April 2020 · Cabinet Office

Proposed by Chloe Smith Con Norwich North

Parliamentary Procedure

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

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At a glance

Key points

  • The Cabinet Office will indemnify petition officers against legal claims related to their duties under the Recall of MPs Act 2015.
  • A Minute has been laid extending current indemnity arrangements for petition officers.
  • A certificate confirms the Cabinet Office will cover any employee liabilities of returning officers.

Issue summary

The statement addresses the need for the Cabinet Office to indemnify petition officers against legal claims related to their duties under the Recall of MPs Act 2015.

Action requested

I have today laid a Minute setting out the extension of current arrangements that indemnify petition officers and provided a certificate confirming that we will bear any employee liabilities of returning officers. This action ensures appropriate coverage for petition officers during recall petitions while adhering to parliamentary procedures.

Key facts

  • Petition officers are independent entities separate from both central and local government.
  • The Recall of MPs Act 2015 requires a recall petition if certain conditions under section 1 are met in relation to an MP.
  • The Cabinet Office intends to extend the current indemnity arrangements for claims arising out of petition officer duties.
  • An indemnity was previously provided by the Home Office for returning officers for the 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
  • HM Treasury has approved the indemnity in principle.
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