Register of Interests of Members' Sectretaries and Research Assistants Contents


INTRODUCTION

Purpose and Form of the Register

The establishment of the Register dates from a Resolution of the House of Commons on 17 December 1985 (shown overleaf). Essentially the purpose of the Register is to record "any relevant gainful occupation which they [ie. Members' secretaries or research assistants] may pursue other than that for which the pass was issued" and certain "visits, gifts or benefits which they receive" which relate in any way to the member of staff's work in Parliament.

In Section 1 of the Register, entries are listed alphabetically according to the staff member's surname. Section 2 contains exactly the same information but entries are listed according to the sponsoring Member's name.

Administration and Inspection of the Register

The Register is compiled and maintained by the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (tel: 020 7219 0401). Changes to the rules governing the Register are determined by the Committee on Standards and Privileges, although where such changes are substantial they are put by the Committee to the House for approval before being implemented.

When the House is sitting, the Register is usually updated at the start of each month. It is not printed by The Stationery Office and is not available in bookshops, but a copy of the most recent edition is put:

  • on the Internet at www.parliament.uk (select `Index', then the letter `R', then `Register of All-Party Groups')
  • for public inspection in the Committee Office of the House of Commons (please call 020 7219 6615 to make an appointment)
  • in the Oriel Room at the House of Commons, for Members of either House to inspect.


RESOLUTION REQUIRING REGISTRATION OF ANY RELEVANT GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT

17 December 1985

 Resolved, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on Members' Interests in the last Session of Parliament; welcomes the intention of the Committee stated in paragraphs 7 and 9 of the Report to keep under review both Parliamentary lobbying and the appropriate scope of the declaration and registration required of Members who are so engaged; emphasises that it is the personal responsibility of each Member to have regard to his public position and the good name of Parliament in any work he undertakes or any interest he acquires; confirms that the scope of the requirements to register remunerated trades, professions or vocations includes any remunerated activity in the fields of public relations and political and parliamentary advice and consultancy; in particular agrees with the Select Committee in its statement in paragraph 10 of its Report in regard to the registration and declaring of clients that the services which require such registration and, where appropriate, declaration: `include as well as any action connected with any proceedings in the House or its Committees, the sponsoring of functions in the Palace, making representations to Ministers, Civil Servants and other Members, accompanying delegations to Ministers and the like'; and further agrees with its recommendations in the interests of greater openness, namely that:

      1. those holding permanent passes as lobby journalists accredited to Parliamentary press Gallery or for parliamentary broadcasting be required to register not only the employment for which they had received their pass, but also any other paid occupation or employment where their privileged access to Parliament is relevant;
       
      2. holders of permanent passes as Members' secretaries or Members' research assistants be required to register any relevant gainful occupation which they may pursue other than that for which the pass is issued; and
       
      3. Commons officers in All-Party Groups, Parliamentary Groups, and Groups whose membership is open to Members of either House of more than one party[1], be required to register the names of the officers of the Group, and the source and extent of any benefits financial or in kind from outside sources which they may enjoy, together with any other relevant gainful occupation of any staff which they may have. Where a public relations agency provides the assistance, the ultimate client should be named;

and that the Registers be made available for public inspection under arrangements to be approved by the Committee on Standards and Privileges[2]; and asks that the Committee considers further measures to strengthen disclosure provisions including the possibility of identifying interests in Parliamentary Questions, whether the amount of remuneration should be declared as well as the interest, and whether there is the need to consider constraints on voting.

RESOLUTION REQUIRING REGISTRATION OF VISITS, GIFTS AND BENEFITS

28 June 1993

On 28 June 1993 the House approved a recommendation contained in paragraph 58 of the First Report of the Select Committee on Members' Interests, Session 1991-92 (HC 326). Paragraph 58 stated:

 "We are aware of a growing practice among lobbying companies of offering visits and other facilities to Members' staff; and we have considered whether these too should be entered in the Register of Members' Interests, under categories 5, 6 or 7 as appropriate. However, there are obvious difficulties in placing the onus upon Members to disclose benefits received by their staff. We therefore recommend that
holders of permanent passes as Members' secretaries or research assistants should be required to register visits, gifts or benefits which they receive and which are covered by the definitions in categories 5, 6 or 7 of the new registration form for Members, in the same way as they are already required to register any relevant occupation which they may pursue other than that for which the pass is issued."


Definition of categories referred to in the above Resolution

(5)Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality (UK)
  Any gift of a value greater than £125, or any material advantage of a value greater than £250, which is received from any company, organisation or person within the United Kingdom and relates in any way to the member of staff's work in Parliament.
    
(6)Overseas Visits
  Any overseas visit relating to or in any way arising out of the member of staff's work in Parliament, where the cost of the visit was not wholly borne by the member of staff or by United Kingdom public funds. The date, destination, and purpose of the visit should be registered, as well as the name of the government, organisation, company or individual which met the cost of the visit.
    
(7)Overseas Benefits and Gifts
  Any gift or material advantage covered by the financial thresholds in (5) above which is received from or on behalf of any foreign Government, organisation, company or individual and relates in any way to the member of staff's work in Parliament.





1  
Words in italics were amended by a Resolution of the House on 10 March 1989. Back

2  Words in italics were amended by a Resolution of the House on 29 July 1998. Back


 
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Prepared 27 July 2001