Role - Committee on Standards
The Committee on Standards cannot take on complaints about Members of Parliament. Such complaints should be directed to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (see below).
The Committee on Standards was appointed on 13 December 2012 by the House of Commons following its separation from the former Committee on Standards and Privileges to consider any matter relating to the conduct of Members. Its role is to:
- oversee the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
- examine the arrangements proposed by the Commissioner for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Financial Interests and any other registers of interest established by the House
- review from time to time the form and content of those registers
- consider any specific complaints made in relation to the registering or declaring of interests referred to it by the Commissioner
- consider any matter relating to the conduct of Members, including specific complaints in relation to alleged breaches in the Code of Conduct which have been drawn to the Committee's attention by the Commissioner
- recommend any modifications to the Code of Conduct as may from time to time appear to be necessary.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is an independent officer of the House of Commons. His or her job is to oversee the Register of Members' Financial Interests and the Code of Conduct for MPs. The Commissioner also advises the Committee on Standards about issues relating to the Code of Conduct. There is more information on the Commissioner's website.