V. Rules of Conduct
8. Members are expected in particular to observe
the following rules and associated Resolutions of the House.
9. Members shall base their conduct on a consideration
of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest
and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two,
at once, and in favour of the public interest.
10. No Member shall act as a paid advocate in any
proceeding of the House.[10]
11. The acceptance by a Member of a bribe to influence
his or her conduct as a Member, including any fee, compensation
or reward in connection with the promotion of, or opposition to,
any Bill, Motion, or other matter submitted, or intended to be
submitted to the House, or to any Committee of the House, is contrary
to the law of Parliament.[11]
12. In any activities with, or on behalf of, an organisation
with which a Member has a financial relationship, including activities
which may not be a matter of public record such as informal meetings
and functions, he or she must always bear in mind the need to
be open and frank with Ministers, Members and officials.
13. Members must bear in mind that information which
they receive in confidence in the course of their parliamentary
duties should be used only in connection with those duties, and
that such information must never be used for the purpose of financial
gain.
14. Members shall at all times ensure that their
use of expenses, allowances, facilities and services provided
from the public purse is strictly in accordance with the rules
laid down on these matters, and that they observe any limits placed
by the House on the use of such expenses, allowances, facilities
and services.
15. Members shall at all times conduct themselves
in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public's
trust and confidence in the integrity of Parliament and never
undertake any action which would bring the House of Commons, or
its Members generally, into disrepute.
VI. Registration
and Declaration of Interests
16. Members shall fulfil conscientiously the requirements
of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the
Register of Members' Interests and shall always draw attention
to any relevant interest in any proceeding of the House or its
Committees, or in any communications with Ministers, Government
Departments or Executive Agencies.[12]
VII. Duties
in respect of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and
the Committee on Standards and Privileges
17. The application of this Code shall be a matter
for the House of Commons, and for the Committee on Standards and
Privileges and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards acting
in accordance with Standing Orders Nos 149 and 150 respectively.
18. Members shall cooperate, at all stages, with
any investigation into their conduct by or under the authority
of the House.
19. No Member shall lobby a member of the Committee
on Standards and Privileges in a manner calculated or intended
to influence their consideration of a complaint of a breach of
this Code.
9 Cm 2850-I, p 14. Back
10
Resolution of 6 November 1995. Back
11
Resolutions of 2 May 1695, 22 June 1858, and 15 July 1947 as amended
on 6 November 1995 and 14 May 2002. Back
12
Resolutions of the House of 22 May 1974, 12 June 1975 as amended
on 19 July 1995, 12 June 1975, 17 December 1985, 6 November 1995
as amended on 14 May 2002, and 13 July 1992. Back
