Privileges and Conduct Committee publishes report into the conduct of Lord Blencathra

The report of the Commissioner for Standards found that Lord Blencathra breached the Code of Conduct by signing a contract that would involve providing parliamentary services to the government of the Cayman Islands. The Commissioner found that the fact that Lord Blencathra entered into such a contract put him in breach of the Code. The Commissioner acknowledged that there was no evidence that Lord Blencathra actually provided parliamentary services to the Cayman Islands government. 

The report of the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct recommends that the appropriate sanction for the breach is for Lord Blencathra to make a personal statement of apology to the House in terms which have been proposed by Lord Blencathra and approved by the chairman of the sub-committee. 

The report is expected to be considered by the House on Thursday 17 July. It is expected that Lord Blencathra's apology to the House will follow that consideration.