Minutes of Proceedings Committee on Standards and Privileges

House of Commons

Committee on
Standards and Privileges

Minutes of Proceedings

Session 2004–05

Ordered by The House of Commons

to be printed 7 April 2005

Committee on Standards and Privileges

The Committee on Standards and Privileges is appointed by the House of Commons to oversee the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; to examine the arrangements proposed by the Commissioner for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests and any other registers of interest established by the House; to review from time to time the form and content of those registers; to consider any specific complaints made in relation to the registering or declaring of interests referred to it by the Commissioner; to consider any matter relating to the conduct of Members, including specific complaints in relation to alleged breaches in the Code of Conduct which have been drawn to the Committee's attention by the Commissioner; and to recommend any modifications to the Code of Conduct as may from time to time appear to be necessary.

Membership during Session 2004–05

Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP (Conservative, North West Hampshire) (Chairman)

Mrs Angela Browning MP (Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton)

Mr Wayne David MP (Labour, Caerphilly)

Mr Andrew Dismore MP (Labour, Hendon)

Rt Hon Derek Foster MP (Labour, Bishop Auckland)

Mr David Heath CBE MP (Liberal Democrat, Somerton and Frome)

Rt Hon Andrew Mackay MP (Conservative, Bracknell)

Mr Kevin McNamara MP (Labour, Hull North)

Mr Stephen Pound MP (Labour, Ealing North)

Mr Simon Thomas MP (Plaid Cymru, Ceredigion)

Powers

The constitution and powers of the Committee are set out in Standing Order No. 149. In particular, the Committee has power to order the attendance of any Member of Parliament before the committee and to require that specific documents or records in the possession of a Member relating to its inquiries, or to the inquiries of the Commissioner, be laid before the Committee. The Committee has power to refuse to allow its public proceedings to be broadcast. The Law Officers, if they are Members of Parliament, may attend and take part in the Committee's proceedings, but may not vote.

Publications

The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at: www.parliament.uk/sandp.

Committee staff

The current staff of the Committee are Dr Christopher Ward (Clerk), Miss Jenny McCullough (Second Clerk) and Mrs Lisa Stead (Secretary).

Contacts

All correspondence should be addressed to The Clerk of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, Journal Office, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 6615.

Proceedings of the Committee

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Prepared: 19 May 2005