The Committee on Standards has said it is grateful for the
Government providing its response to the Committee’s reports on
the Code of Conduct for MPs.
In May and July, the Committee on Standards proposed a
comprehensive package of changes to the Code of Conduct for MPs
and to the process for dealing with breaches of the Code. The
Committee has today published the Government’s response to its
proposals.
The Committee proposed a set of reforms to tighten the rules,
particularly around lobbying, transparency and conflicts of
interest. These proposals are the product of the Committee’s
extensive review of the Code of Conduct, taking a range of oral
and written evidence inside and outside the House for over a
year.
Among the proposals is an outright ban on MPs accepting paid jobs
as parliamentary advisers, strategists or consultants; tightening
the 'serious wrong' exemption; and requiring Members to have a
written contract for any outside work that makes clear that they
cannot lobby Ministers, Members or public officials, or advise
them on lobbying.
Further, the proposed Procedural Protocol brings together in a
single document all the processes for how breaches of the MPs’
Code of Conduct are dealt with.
The proposed Protocol followed a review by the distinguished
former Appeal Court judge, Sir Ernest Ryder, who was commissioned
by the Committee in December. The review was subsequently
published in February.
The Committee accepted all of Sir Ernest’s recommendations in
May, and set out in detail a plan for implementing them. The
Government has now responded to all the Committee’s
recommendations.
In its response to the reports, the Government noted that the
proposals should be put to the House as soon as possible. The
response also noted that Members should have sufficient time to
properly consider the substantive proposals. The Committee agrees
with this and is now calling on the Government to make time in
the House of Commons to debate and decide on the proposals for a
revised Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules, and the new
Procedural Protocol.
Chair of the Committee on Standards, , said:
“The Committee’s proposals will refresh, clarify and strengthen
the Code of Conduct and tighten up the rules around conflicts of
interests. They will also enhance the process for dealing with
breaches of the Code.
“But the ultimate decision to implement these changes lies not
with the Committee, or the Government—but the House itself. For
this reason, it is imperative that the House is able to consider
the proposals as soon as possible.
“I urge the Government to bring forward the relevant motions
to the House as soon as possible when the House returns in
October so Members can debate and decide on these important
changes.”
The three reports with final recommendations on the Code
of Conduct, the Guide to the Rules, and the draft Procedural
Protocol, are available to view here on the
Committee website.
