Commons debate on Standards and Privileges report on David Laws

Standards and Privileges report

The Committee on Standards and Privileges published a report on 12 May 2011 on David Laws, Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil. The report followed an inquiry by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards into David Laws' expenses claims.

The House of Commons was asked to approve the findings of the Committee on Standards and Privileges report and endorse the recommendation in paragraph 39 of the report;

"Nonetheless, whatever his motives and subsequent behaviour, Mr Laws was guilty of a series of serious breaches of the rules, over a considerable time. We recommend that Mr Laws should be suspended from the service of the House for a period of 7 sitting days. As the timing of the debate on this Report is uncertain, and there is a recess approaching, we recommend this suspension should begin on 7 June, when the House resumes. Mr Laws should also apologize to the House by way of a personal statement."

• Fifteenth Report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges: Mr David Laws Volume I (PDF 485KB)
• Fifteenth Report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges: Mr David Laws Volume II (PDF 2.52MB)

Watch and read the views expressed by MPs during the debate on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard. David Laws made a personal statement to the House of Commons on Thursday 12 May 2011.

• Video and audio: Standards and Privileges: David Laws
• Commons Hansard: Standards and Privileges: David Laws
• Video and audio: Personal Statement: David Laws
• Commons Hansard: Personal Statement: David Laws

Further information

• Committee on Standards and Privileges
• Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards