The Netherlands National Handbook on Decision-Making in Crisis Situations closely involved. They may include experts in a specific field or expert representatives of other authorities, government bodies or vital sectors. 9. The MCMC will not appropriate any powers from a minister or take a decision on any matter that concerns a minister who is not present. 10. In the temporary absence of the Minister of Security and Justice and of the Prime Minister (= the Minister of General Affairs), the Deputy Prime Minister will chair the MCMC. The standard deputation arrangement will apply in the temporary absence of any other ministers.12 17. As the minister responsible for coordinating counterterrorism, the Minister of Security and Justice is entitled to perform the tasks and exercise the associated powers of another minister if immediate action is required to prevent a terrorist offence (or to limit its impact beforehand) or if it is impossible for the Minister of Security and Justice and the other minister to confer or to agree on measures in the time available. He may, for example, block or restrict access to some areas of Dutch airspace by civil aircraft or block mobile telephone communications. These powers are granted provisionally by Royal Decree pending the passage of a Bill by parliament.13 If time is of the essence, the Minister of Security and Justice can exercise his extended powers even if the MCMC has been convened in response to a terrorist threat or attack. He is, however, bound by the Committee’s decisions, which may also affect his extended powers. 11. If it is necessary to take a decision by vote, the decision will be based on a simple majority, in which each minister in attendance has a single vote. In the event of a tie, the chair will have the casting vote. These additional powers will be operationalised, in so far as possible, through regular, existing channels. In most instances, this means that the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) will contact the line ministry’s Coordination Centre on behalf of the Minister of Security and Justice. 12. The head of the National Crisis Centre will act as the executive secretary to the MCMC. The executive secretary is supported by a deputy secretary drawn from the NCC pool. The executive secretary will draw up a list of decisions with the Committee’s conclusions as quickly as possible. The list must be approved by the Cabinet. If decisions cannot be delayed, prior approval of the list is not required. 13. The MCMC meets at the NCC and will decide whether the Committee’s structure is appropriate given the nature of the crisis, or whether the situation can best be handled by the ICMC or by the minister with primary responsibility. 14. The MCMC’s decisions form a framework for their implementation by public and private partners. In his capacity as the minister responsible for coordinating crisis management, the Minister of Security and Justice monitors the implementation of the MCMC’s decisions and reports back to the Cabinet on the progress of this and on any problems that may arise. Ministerial implementation of the MCMC’s decisions is a responsibility of the relevant ministers and is coordinated by the DCCs, if necessary in the Interdepartmental Coordination Group. 15. If the situation becomes serious enough to warrant it, the MCMC will meet at an alternative location. 16. Where necessary, the MCMC may depart from the provisions of this National Handbook, unless such action is contrary to the Rules of Procedure for the Cabinet and/or the Order establishing the MCMC. 12 20 Order of 5 November 2012 containing the deputation arrangement in the event of the temporary absence of a minister (Government Gazette 2012, 23054). At the request of the Prime Minister, a senior adviser from the Ministry of General Affairs will stand in for the Prime Minister in his absence. 13 Decree on the temporary reallocation of ministerial tasks in the event of a terrorist attack of an urgent nature (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees 2005, 662), effective as of 21 December 2005.