Process for Investigating Allegations made against MPs
24 February 2015
Committee Announcement from the Chair of the Committee on Standards and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is responsible for deciding whether or not there is sufficient evidence that there may have been a breach of the Code of Conduct to justify an inquiry. This is a decision for her alone.
If the Commissioner decides to conduct an inquiry, she will need to assemble evidence, including complete transcripts of the meetings on which recent reports have been based. In the past, broadcasting organisations have taken up to 5 weeks to release such transcripts to the Commissioner. The Commissioner’s procedures for investigation are designed to be fair and open. The Commissioner shares the evidence she has gathered with the individual under inquiry and gives them an opportunity to comment on that evidence before she, or the Committee, reaches any conclusions.
Any investigation will inevitably continue into the next Parliament. The Committee on Standards has agreed that any memorandum will be submitted to its successor Committee on completion.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Procedure for Investigations