8. Staff of the House serve in one of two Departments: the Clerk of the Parliaments' Department (the Parliament Office) and Black Rod's Department. The Clerk of the Parliaments' Department is divided into fourteen Offices (listed in paragraph 9), and the term "Head of Office" refers to the Head of one of these Offices. The Refreshment Department was formerly a separate Department but is now one of the Offices in the Clerk of the Parliaments' Department. It has nevertheless retained its old name. The term "Head of Office" includes the Head of Catering Services.

9. The staff of the House in the Parliament Office work in fourteen Offices. These are the Clerk of the Parliaments' Office, the Committee Office, the Delegated Legislation Office, the Finance Department, the Human Resources Office, the Information Office, the Journal Office, the Judicial Office, the Legislation Office, the Library, the Official Report (Hansard), the Parliamentary Archives, the Printed Paper Office and the Refreshment Department.

10. The staff of the House in Black Rod's Department are his deputy, the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, the Administration Officer, the Staff Superintendent and his Deputies, office staff, Doorkeepers, Attendants and Housekeepers.

11. The Staff of the Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology Service (PICT) are employed by both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The staff of the Parliamentary Works Directorate and the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service are employed by the House of Commons, as is the Director of Parliamentary Broadcasting. As in the case of the Parliamentary Archives, the costs of these staff are shared and they serve both Houses.

12. The specific duties and hours of work in each Office are a matter for the Head of that Office. There are, however, general provisions concerning appointments, probation, pay and grading, hours of work, overtime, holidays, staff reporting, promotion, discipline and termination of employment and various other matters which apply to all staff of the House and which are explained more fully below.

13. In all matters relating to the employment of staff, the Clerk of the Parliaments, Black Rod and Heads of Offices are assisted by the Human Resources Office. The duties of the Human Resources Office include the recruitment and retention of staff; pay, grading and pay negotiation; superannuation; allowances; staff reporting; grade management and mobility; staff welfare and personnel matters. The Office is located in 7 Old Palace Yard and the Director of Human Resources and Human Resources Office may be contacted on extension 3185.