The
issues
6. The Chairman of Ways and Means has informed us
that, currently, Panel members invariably draw attention to any
possible conflict of interests when they are approached to chair
a given committee; incompatible arrangements are thus avoided
at an early stage. While for a Panel member to chair a committee
considering a matter in relation to which he or she had a registrable
or declarable interest might cast doubt on the impartiality of
the chair and the integrity of the Parliamentary process, we are
satisfied that the existing arrangements for appointing chairmen
ensure that this does not happen. The introduction of payment
does not change the position in this respect.
7. The Chairman of Ways and Means has also told us
that he is not aware that any member of the Chairmen's Panel,
past or present "has received advantage as a consequence
of duties performed". However, he recognizes that it is a
"conceivable if remote possibility … that after the
event a chairman of a controversial, high profile or otherwise
interesting Bill Committee might be offered the opportunity to
provide a remunerated account of the process".
8. While past experience suggests that such opportunities
are likely to occur very infrequently, if at all, we consider
that, once chairmen of Standing Committees are remunerated in
this capacity, it would be inappropriate for them to accept payment
(as distinct from reimbursement of expenses incurred) in respect
of anything such as a talk, address, interview, article, book
review, contribution to a book or media appearance, etc. where
the relevant invitation had been extended to the Member primarily
as a result of his or her appointment as a member of the Chairmen's
Panel.
9. Our predecessors gave similar guidance in respect
of Select Committee chairmen in their Seventh Report of Session
2002-03.[7] By analogy
with select committee chairmen,[8]
the key question an appointed Panel member should ask when weighing
up whether payment for an outside activity is acceptable is "Had
I not been an appointed member of the Chairmen's Panel, is it
significantly less likely that I would have been asked to undertake
this activity?". As with select committee chairmen, in formulating
his or her response, a Panel member is welcome to seek advice
from the Registrar of Members' Interests, who will if necessary
consult the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
10. On this basis, we share the view of the Chairman
of Ways and Means that, when payment is introduced on 1 November
2005, the House will continue to receive from the Chairmen's Panel
the high quality and impartial service to which it is accustomed.
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