Principal Private Secretary to the House of Lords Business Managers

The Office of the House of Lords Business Managers, part of the Government in Parliament Group within the Cabinet Office, is structured into three sections: a) the Leader's private office, b) the Chief Whip's private office and outer office (handling business management and members), and c) the Whips' office (providing Personal Assistance and limited Private Secretary support to six additional whips, each representing several government departments). Beyond private office support and facilitating Ministers' roles in the Royal Household, the office performs two main functions: business management (scheduling legislation and other business) and providing advice to Ministers and Whitehall on the Lord's handling of constitutional and parliamentary business, including procedure and practice. Given the business managers' role in Parliament, their private offices are central to the interface between government, parliament, and party politics.

The Principal Private Secretary reports to the First Parliamentary Counsel, acting as head of office. This role involves managing fifteen staff (plus oversight of four Special Advisers) and a budget of around £1,700,000. In addition to standard Principal Private Secretary duties, this role has specific responsibilities:

• Personally managing the programme of Government primary legislation in the House of Lords under the principal's direction, and serving as the main official channel of communication between opposition and government business managers in the Lords (known as "the usual channels").

Main Objectives:

• Oversee and deliver the Government's legislative programme in the House of Lords: Contribute to planning, negotiate scheduling with opposition parties, and facilitate the passage of bills, liaising with the House of Commons, Parliamentary Business and Legislation Secretariat, No.10, House of Lords authorities, and other Whitehall Departments.
• Manage all other Lords business: Arrange day-to-day business in the Chamber and Grand Committee via the Government Whips’ Office, and produce the weekly Forthcoming Business document.
• Provide high-quality private office support to 10 Ministers: Offer timely and accurate procedural advice to the Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Deputy Leader, and six Whips.
• Advise on Lords parliamentary business and policy angles: Support Cabinet Office teams and other Government Departments (especially Parliamentary Business and Legislation Secretariat, Cabinet Office Parliamentary Adviser, Constitution Group, No.10, and Bill Teams) on Lords procedure, conventions between Houses, policy relating to the Lords (e.g., Brexit‑related procedural changes, Lords reform, appointments), and the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster.
• Manage briefing for the Leaders on domestic committees: Oversee and ensure quality briefing for the Leader, Chief Whip, and Deputies for committees including the House Commission, Procedure, Privileges & Conduct, Liaison, Services, Finance, and Restoration and Renewal Client Board.
• Maintain strong relationships: Promote and maintain constructive and effective working relationships with the usual channels and the House of Lords administration.
• Lead the Lords business managers’ team: Line manage fifteen staff, liaise with four Special Advisers, and manage an annual budget of approximately £1,700,000.

Key Internal and External Relationships:

• The Leader of the House, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Deputy Leader, and Government Whips.
• Business managers in both Houses, in government and opposition, including the government and opposition front benches and the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers.
• Officials across Whitehall, particularly: Commons: Principal Private Secretary/House of Commons Chief Whip. No 10: Prime Minister’s Private Secretaries and the Director of Legislative Affairs. Cabinet Office: Parliamentary Business & Legislation Secretariat and Constitution Group. Members of the House of Lords. The House of Lords Administration.

Line Management and Budgetary Responsibilities:

• Staffing: Line management for fifteen staff and responsibility for four Special Advisers. The Cabinet Office delegates most HR functions (including recruitment, reward, and performance management) to the office.
• Budget: Manages an annual budget of approximately £1,700,000. This single budget is monitored both individually and as part of the Government in Parliament Group (with the Commons business managers and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel).