Election of an interim Presiding Officer

1 This paragraph applies if on the required sitting day— a the election of a Presiding Officer or any deputy or deputies is, by virtue of this Act, any other enactment or the standing orders of the Assembly, required to be the first business on that day, and b the Assembly does not elect from among its members a Presiding Officer or any deputy or deputies. 2 The Assembly must elect from among its members an interim Presiding Officer. 3 Neither section 39 nor section 42 applies to the election of the interim Presiding Officer (nor is the election of any deputy or deputies required). 4 Accordingly, the interim Presiding Officer is to be elected by a majority of those members of the Assembly voting. 5 The proceedings for the election of an interim Presiding Officer are to be chaired by the oldest member of the Assembly present. 6 But if the oldest member present is also seeking election as interim Presiding Officer then the next oldest member present is to chair the proceedings instead, and so on. 7 An interim Presiding Officer— a holds office only for the purposes of business relating to a motion for a consent resolution which relates to the new continuation period, and b ceases to hold office once written notification of the matters mentioned in paragraph 19(2) has been given to the Secretary of State. 8 Standing orders may make further provision in connection with the election of an interim Presiding Officer. 9 In its application in a case where this paragraph applies, paragraph 15 has effect as if— a the following were substituted for paragraph 15(8)— 8 The motion for the consent resolution is to be proceeded with as the first business after the election of the interim Presiding Officer. ; b the reference to the Presiding Officer in paragraph 15(9) were a reference to the interim Presiding Officer; c the following were substituted for paragraph 15(10)— 10 The question on the motion for the consent resolution (if not already put) is to be put six hours after the motion is moved. . 10 In sub-paragraph (1) the reference to “the required sitting day” is to the first such day.