Annual Report April 2017 - March 2018

The Report describes the work of the Commissioner's office during the 2017-18 business year, including the outcomes of completed inquiries into the conduct of individual Members and the preparation of the four registers of interests.

During the year, 139 formal allegations were received, of which 22 were accepted for inquiry. 17 allegations were inquired into and concluded by the Commissioner.  One further allegation was investigated and then referred to the Committee on Standards. 

The Commissioner continued to ensure that confidential advice was available to Members and their staff, including briefings about the registration requirements.

Notes for Editors

1. The current framework for Parliamentary Standards dates from 1995, when the first Commissioner was appointed. Kathryn Stone OBE is the sixth Commissioner. She was appointed for five years with effect from 1 January 2018, succeeding Kathryn Hudson.  The appointment is not renewable.  

2. The Commissioner's main duties are:

• to maintain the Register of Members' Financial Interests and the other registers of interests for Members' staff, journalists and All-Party Groups;
• to provide advice confidentially on matters relating to the registration and declaration of interests;
• to advise the Committee on Standards on the interpretation of the Code of Conduct;
• to monitor the operation of the Code of Conduct and registers and to make recommendations to the Committee thereon;
• to investigate, if she thinks fit, specific matters which have come to her attention relating to the conduct of Members and to report on them to the Committee on Standards.

The Commissioner's remit does not extend to the House of Lords. Information about the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/the-commissioner-for-standards/

Complaints about the misuse of the scheme for parliamentary expenses since May 2010 are a matter for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. Information about their Compliance Officer is available at http://www.parliamentarycompliance.org.uk/

3. The Commissioner's Annual Report can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/publications/annual-reports/

Memoranda on individual cases investigated by the Commissioner during the year were published as appendices to Reports of the Committee on Standards: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/standards/publications/

Details of cases concluded via the rectification process since 2008 can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/allegations-the-commissioner-has-rectified/

Details of cases not upheld without a memorandum to the Committee since 2008 can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/allegations-the-commissioner-has-not-upheld/

Information about the Commissioner's current caseload can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/allegations-under-investigation-by-the-commissioner/

Statistics on complaints can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/complaints-statistics/

Description of the process for investigating complaints can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/

The latest edition of the Register of Members' Financial Interests can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/registers-of-interests/register-of-members-financial-interests/

4. The Commissioner's office is available for media enquiries on 020 7219 8431.