Absence of the Presiding Officer

“11. (1) When the Presiding Officer is unavoidably absent from any day’s sitting, an announcement of the Presiding Officer’s absence shall be made by the Clerk at the Table of the House. The Deputy Presiding Officer shall then take the Chair and shall be vested with all the powers of the Presiding Officer as if the Presiding Officer was in the Chair.

(2) When the Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer are both absent, the Clerk shall call upon the House to elect a Member to preside over that sitting of the House and the election shall be conducted in a manner similar to the election of the Presiding Officer described in Standing Order 3 (Election of Presiding Officer)”