Committee on Standards in Public Life: Standards of Conduct in the House of Commons
R8-12
Published November 2002
Response position and delivery status are recorded separately. Acceptance does not establish implementation.
Recommendation (the Committee's words)
(a) The House should establish an Investigatory Panel to handle serious, contested cases.
(b) The Investigatory Panel should comprise an independent legal Chair from outside the House and two MPs of substantial seniority drawn from different parties and who are not members of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.
(c) The Chair of the Investigatory Panel and the pool of MPs from which the two other Panel members will be drawn should be identified at the beginning of each Parliament.
(d) The Committee on Standards and Privileges should refer to the Investigatory Panel any cases involving disputed and significant issues of fact where the Member would face a serious penalty in the event of the complaint being found to be proved.
(e) An MP whose case is being considered by the Panel should have the right (i) to call and examine witnesses and (ii) to receive reasonable financial assistance for legal advice and representation.
(f) The Investigatory Panel should be able to appoint Counsel who could cross-examine witnesses.
(g) The Investigatory Panel should reach decisions by a majority.
(h) The Investigatory Panel should report its findings on the facts that it has identified and its own conclusion on whether the Code has been breached to the Committee on Standards and Privileges.
(i) It should be for the Committee on Standards and Privileges to decide whether there has been a breach of the Code, taking account of the findings of the Investigatory Panel.
(j) The findings of the Investigatory Panel should be published as an appendix to the report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges. (page 38)
(b) The Investigatory Panel should comprise an independent legal Chair from outside the House and two MPs of substantial seniority drawn from different parties and who are not members of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.
(c) The Chair of the Investigatory Panel and the pool of MPs from which the two other Panel members will be drawn should be identified at the beginning of each Parliament.
(d) The Committee on Standards and Privileges should refer to the Investigatory Panel any cases involving disputed and significant issues of fact where the Member would face a serious penalty in the event of the complaint being found to be proved.
(e) An MP whose case is being considered by the Panel should have the right (i) to call and examine witnesses and (ii) to receive reasonable financial assistance for legal advice and representation.
(f) The Investigatory Panel should be able to appoint Counsel who could cross-examine witnesses.
(g) The Investigatory Panel should reach decisions by a majority.
(h) The Investigatory Panel should report its findings on the facts that it has identified and its own conclusion on whether the Code has been breached to the Committee on Standards and Privileges.
(i) It should be for the Committee on Standards and Privileges to decide whether there has been a breach of the Code, taking account of the findings of the Investigatory Panel.
(j) The findings of the Investigatory Panel should be published as an appendix to the report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges. (page 38)
From: Committee on Standards in Public Life, Standards of Conduct in the House of Commons, November 2002