Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Rejected
Paragraph: 103
The landscape of standards regulation is a patchwork, with individual watchdogs with different powers, legal...
Conclusion
The landscape of standards regulation is a patchwork, with individual watchdogs with different powers, legal basis, and appointments processes.168 Placing on a statutory basis those that are not already is an opportunity to regularise them to some extent. However, whilst all have responsibility for overseeing standards, 168 See CSPL Upholding Standards in Public Life November 2021, p.43–44 for a table that illustrates this patchwork nature of standards regulation in the UK. 42 Propriety of Governance in Light of Greensill each has a distinct role and involves very different relationships.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that where standards bodies are committees that the Chair of the body chairs the Advisory Assessment Panel for the recruitment of their independent members, but does not believe that these appointments require an extra layer of independent oversight.
Paragraph Reference:
103
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government agrees that where standards bodies are committees (ACoBA, CSPL, HOLAC), that the Chair of the body chairs the Advisory Assessment Panel for the recruitment of their independent members. The Government does not believe that these appointments require an extra layer of independent oversight (either through a panel having a majority of independent members, or the granting of a veto to the relevant select committee). These appointments do not need a greater level of independence than that of other high-profile regulators and bodies (such as the Information Commissioner or the Equality and Human Rights Commission). The Government is committed to enabling effective accountability around appointments, and agrees that sufficient time should be given for pre-appointment scrutiny. 2.5 Clarifying the Process around Direct Ministerial Appointments Boardman Report,