Impartiality

4.34The Chairman of Ways and Means while in office follows the same tradition of abstention from party controversy as the Speaker.1 By convention the Chairman does not vote either in divisions of the House or in ballots.

The Chairman of Ways and Means does not exercise the rights of the ordinary Member to participate in debates and divisions of the House, although they have occasionally made speeches when moving motions relating to private business.2 The Chairman's seat is liable to be contested and their salary is placed upon the House of Commons: Members Estimate and not the Consolidated Fund.

The House has assented, following a report from a select committee, that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman should refrain from acting in a professional capacity on behalf of or against any Member of the House.3

Footnotes

  1. 1. For a statement of the Chairman's impartiality, see HC Deb (14 March 1984) 56, c 408. For motions of censure of the conduct of the Chairman, see para 20.10.
  2. 2. For example, motion to reduce the quorum of the Committee in the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Bill, HC Deb (1985–86) 81, c 1013. On that occasion the Chairman did not vote.
  3. 3. CJ (1947–48) 188; HC Deb (17 June 1948) 452, c 663.