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Committee on Standards in Public Life

The Committee on Standards in Public Life, established in 1994, monitors the ethical environment and responds to issues of concern.

In addition to its formal inquiries, annual reports and research into public attitudes, the Committee devotes time throughout the year to discussing current issues and concerns relating to standards in public life.

The Committee does not investigate individual allegations of misconduct. However, it does welcome views about possible areas for inquiry. The link below has contact details for the Committee.

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Other safeguards

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who is independent of government, can advise MPs on matters of standards, and hold initial investigations into complaints about alleged breaches of the rules by Members. The Commissioner reports to the House of Commons Select Committee on Standards and Privileges.

The Commons has a public register of MPs' financial and some non-financial interests. Members with a financial interest must declare it when speaking in the House or in Committee and must indicate it when giving notice of a question or motion. They must also disclose any relevant financial interest in other proceedings of the House and in dealings with other MPs or civil servants. The House of Lords has its own register on similar lines to that for MPs.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments is independent of government and is responsible for monitoring, regulating and auditing ministerial appointments to a range of public bodies.

Other safeguards and measures introduced around the time of the Committee on Standards in Public Life included:

• changes in the ethical framework for local government, including the establishment in 2001 of a new Standards Board for England
• a regulatory regime for political party funding in the UK, overseen by an independent Electoral Commission
• rules governing the conduct and discipline of MPs and strengthened guidance on lobbying
• the introduction of Codes of Conduct for government ministers and special advisers
• the mandatory registration of all peers' relevant financial interests and a short code of conduct for members of the House of Lords