Principal Officers and staff

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href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/speaker/">The Speaker</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/deputy-speakers/">Commons Deputy Speakers</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/lord-speaker/">The Lord Speaker</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/lord-chancellor/">The Lord Chancellor</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/government-opposition/">Government and Opposition roles</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/leader-commons/">Leader of the House of Commons</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/whips/">Whips</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/leader-lords/">Leader of the House of Lords</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/clerk-commons/">Clerk of the House and Chief Executive </a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/clerk-lords/">Clerk of the Parliaments (Lords)</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/serjeant/">Serjeant at Arms</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/black-rod/">Black Rod</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/interviews/">Interviews</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Principal Officers and staff </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117044724im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_1026.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/>  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>This section outlines a number of key roles in Parliament. </p> </div>  <div class="tabs-wrapper parent"> </div> <div id="sub-landing-basic"> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/speaker/">The Speaker</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The Speaker of the House of Commons chairs debates between MPs.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/deputy-speakers/">Commons Deputy Speakers</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The Commons Deputy Speakers chair debates in the absence of the Speaker.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/lord-speaker/">The Lord Speaker</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The Lord Speaker chairs business in the House of Lords debating chamber.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/lord-chancellor/">The Lord Chancellor</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The Lord Chancellor is a Cabinet minister and a member of the House of Commons.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/government-opposition/">Government and Opposition roles</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Find out what Government and Opposition MPs, like the Prime Minster and Leader of the Opposition, do in Parliament.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/leader-commons/">Leader of the House of Commons</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The Leader of the House of Commons organises government business in the Commons.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/whips/">Whips</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Whips are MPs or Lords appointed by each party to help organise their party's contribution to parliamentary business.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/leader-lords/">Leader of the House of Lords</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The Leader of the House of Lords organises government business in the Lords and offers advice on procedure.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/clerk-commons/">Clerk of the House and Chief Executive </a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The Clerk of the House advises the Speaker and MPs on the formal and informal rules of the House of Commons, and manages the Commons' departments and services.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/clerk-lords/">Clerk of the Parliaments (Lords)</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The most senior official in the House of Lords with administrative and management responsibilities.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/serjeant/">Serjeant at Arms</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The Serjeant at Arms is responsible for security and keeping order within the Commons part of the parliamentary estate.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/black-rod/">Black Rod</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Black Rod is the Queen's representative on a daily basis in Parliament. He is a senior officer of the House of Lords and is responsible for security and for the organisation of ceremonial events.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/interviews/">Interviews</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Over the next year we will be running a series of interviews with people in Parliament.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>House of Commons Information Office</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <ul> <li>Telephone: 020 7219 4272</li> <li>Email: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117044724/mailto:hcinfo@parliament.uk">hcinfo@parliament.uk</a></li> <li>Text phone: Dial 18001 followed by 020 7219 4272</li> <li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/hcio/">House of Commons Information Office</a></li></ul> <p><strong>Publications</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/">Guides to Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/weekly-information-bulletin/">Weekly Information Bulletin</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/sessional-information-digest/">Sessional Information Digest</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120117044724/http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/">FAQs</a><br/><br/></li></ul> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Who's Who?</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p></p><div> <p>Find out who holds the other senior staff roles in Parliament.</p></div> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117044724/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/listgovt.htm">House of Commons Officers and staff</a> </li> <li 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Principal Officers and staff - UK Parliament