Registers of Interests

Register of Members' Financial Interests

Paragraph 4 of the MPs' Code of Conduct says:

Members shall fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members' Financial Interests.

At the start of a new Parliament MPs have one month in which to make their first registration. After that, MPs must register within 28 days any interest which someone might reasonably consider to influence their actions or words as an MP. The detailed rules are set out in the Guide to the Rules relating to the conduct of Members.

Parliament publishes these interests in the Register of Members' Financial Interests, which is maintained by The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. The Register is updated on the parliamentary webpages every two weeks during sitting periods and approximately once a month at other times. Entries remain for twelve months after they have expired.

Political parties have separate arrangements for reporting donations, and these are published on the webpages of the Electoral Commission, although if a donation is linked to a Member he or she may also need to include it in their Register entry. The Ministerial Code requires Government Ministers to disclose their interests in detail. These interests are published by the Government.

Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups

MPs do many things as well as taking part in formal parliamentary business. MPs also do a great deal of informal work at Westminster. They may work through All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs), which are cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. An APPG is an informal group of Members who join together to pursue a particular topic or interest. It is essentially run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, although many groups involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.

In order to use the title All-Party Parliamentary Group, a Group must be open to all Members of both houses, regardless of party affiliation, and must satisfy the rules set out in the Guide to the Rules for APPGs. The Register of APPGs, which is maintained by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, is the definitive list of Groups. It contains the financial and other information about Groups that the House has decided should be published. The Register is published on the parliamentary webpages and updated approximately every six weeks. 

Register of Interests of Members' Secretaries and Research Assistants

Members' staff who hold a parliamentary pass sponsored by an MP are required to register outside employment advantaged by their parliamentary pass and also benefits such as gifts and hospitality, subject to their financial value and relevance. These interests are published in the Register of Interests of Members' Secretaries and Research Assistants which is maintained by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. The Register is published on the parliamentary webpages and updated approximately every six weeks.

Register of Journalists' Interests

Journalists accredited to the Lobby, Press Gallery or for  parliamentary broadcasting are required to register other employment advantaged by their parliamentary pass, subject to a financial threshold. These interests are published in the Register of Journalists' Interests which is maintained by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. The Register is published on the parliamentary webpages and updated approximately every six weeks.

Page last reviewed: 3 May 2017