House of Lords publishes Guide to the Code of Conduct
9 March 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
The House of Lords Privileges Committee has today published its guide to the new Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Lords. The House of Lords has also advertised the post of the new Lords Commissioner for Standards.
- Report: Guide to the Code of Conduct
- Job advert: Lords Commissioner for Standards
- House of Lords Committee for Privileges
The post of Lords Commissioner for Standards and the new Code of Conduct were agreed by the House of Lords on 30 November 2009 with the intention of both being in place for the start of the new Parliament later this year.
The Lords Commissioner for Standards will be responsible for the independent investigation and assessment of allegations of breaches of the House's Code of Conduct by Members, including in relation to the House's expenses and allowances system. The new Code, for the first time, requires Members to sign an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct at the start of each Parliament. It prohibits “parliamentary consultancies” and introduces new rules on declaring interests when tabling questions and motions.
The Privileges Committee report, including the new guide, will be debated in the House of Lords in the near future.
Further information