2 Looking outward: information and
advice
2.1 Every two years the Committee on Standards in
Public Life conducts a survey of attitudes towards conduct in
public life. The latest survey was conducted in 2008.[14]
The results of this survey, conducted before the major disclosures
about Members' allowances, show that more people rated standards
of conduct overall as 'low' in 2008 than they did in 2006, and
more people thought that conduct had deteriorated in recent years.
And across the board there was less confidence that the authorities
would uphold standards of conduct: in 2008 33% of respondents
were confident that public office holders would be punished for
doing wrong, compared with 42% in 2004.
2.2 The 2008 survey also suggested that people had
more confidence in the honesty of front-line professionals than
in national politicians. When asked how much they trusted office
holders to tell the truth, 94% said they would trust family doctors
"a lot" or "a fair amount" to
tell the truth, while the equivalent figure for government ministers
was 44%. The picture is however not straightforward: 45% of respondents
would trust MPs in general "a lot" or "a
fair amount" to tell the truth but 62% would trust their
local MP to do so.
2.3 This survey sets a useful—and not wholly
reassuring—benchmark against which to judge the longer term
effect of the expenses crisis and the follow up action to it.
Responding to enquiries from the
general public
2.4 Against this background, and because of the importance
of helping interested members of the public understand the rules
which apply to Members and the objectives of the complaints system,
my office takes particular care to provide helpful and accurate
information to callers and correspondents. During 2008-09 we received
340 letters and emails from members of the public enquiring about
the standards system, or asking about potential complaints. Many
of the latter had already approached a number of different agencies
with their complaint, and came to my office as a last resort.
My office responds individually to each approach, explaining
as appropriate the role of the Commissioner, and how the complaints
system functions. Where appropriate we always try to advise the
individual concerned of the person or agency, if such exists,
who may be best placed to consider the complaint.
2.5 While, in accordance with procedures agreed by
the Committee on Standards and Privileges, my office does not
disclose information about current inquiries, in the most serious
or complex cases where I submit a Memorandum to the Committee,
the Committee publishes my Memorandum—together with the
detailed evidence I have received—as an Appendix to its
report. That is then made available from the Stationery Office
and on the parliamentary webpages.[15]
This means that the public is able to read and consider both
the Committee's report and my Memorandum, along with the information
which was available to me, and to reach their own view on the
complaint.
Responding to enquiries from the
media
2.6 In addition to enquiries from the public, my
office dealt with over 150 media enquiries during the year. In
responding to these we follow procedures agreed with the Committee
on Standards and Privileges in 2003.[16]
We will confirm (if asked) whether a particular complaint has
been received, dismissed or suspended, and when I have submitted
a Memorandum to the Committee. We are also happy to provide as
much information as possible about the process followed in considering
complaints generally. But we do not otherwise provide information
or comment about current inquiries.
Relations with other standards
bodies
2.7 I am pleased to report that during the year we
continued to maintain our contacts with the Standards Commissioners
for the devolved administrations. We also worked closely with
the Electoral Commission, in particular on developing a single
registration requirement for Members. One member of staff also
took part in a conference on standards in local government.
International work
2.8 In addition to the routine giving of advice,
the office has responded to requests from visiting Members and
staff of other parliaments and standards authorities for briefings
and meetings to exchange views on standards matters. In the course
of the year, I or the Registrar met representatives from Uganda,
Canada, Jordan, Australia, Mauritius, Pakistan, Uruguay, Indonesia,
Romania and Scotland, and addressed three seminars for the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association (CPA) as well as the CPA Conference
and a group of Commonwealth judges.
2.9 The Registrar continues to act as a consultant
on a project, being led from the Lebanon, to prepare a handbook
on parliamentary standards for the use, primarily, of Arab parliaments.
My office is also co-operating fully with the efforts of the
Westminster Foundation for Democracy to provide better co-ordination
between the various agencies involved in parliamentary strengthening.
To this end the Registrar will be taking part in the project organised
by the Westminster Consortium for parliamentary strengthening
in the Yemen.
Advice to Members and others
2.10 In addition to the work described above, my
office continues to give advice daily, on request, to Members
about the requirements on them to register and declare interests.
Requests for such advice from Members always increase in the
event of a rule change, and the introduction of the requirement
to register the employment of family members was no exception
to this. We also give advice on wider issues when Members want
to discuss matters which could raise questions of probity. Advice
is given by telephone, letter, e-mail and face-to-face. Such advice
is confidential and only disclosed in the event of its becoming
relevant to an inquiry by the Commissioner.
2.11 The Assistant Registrar carries out the
advice function in respect of the obligations placed by the House
on Members' staff, All-Party Groups and journalists. She contributes
to the House's induction sessions which are held every few months
for new employees of Members.
14 Committee on Standards in Public Life, Survey of
Public Attitudes 2008 Back
15
http://www.parliament.uk/people/standards.cfm Back
16
Procedural Note 5: Policy on the Disclosure of Information about
the Handling of Complaints against Members of Parliament, September
2003 Back
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