2 Looking outward: information and
advice
Publication of information about
inquiries
2.1 In accordance with the procedures agreed by the
House I publish on my webpages each month the statistics in relation
to the complaints I receive and resolve, and I identify the name
of the Member in respect of any cases I am inquiring into. Where
I resolve an inquiry without it going to the Committee, then my
resolution letter, and the evidence on which it is based, are
published on my parliamentary webpages. My reports to the Committee
with all the relevant evidence supporting them are published on
the Committee's webpages.
Responding to enquiries from the
general public
2.2 During the year my office continued to receive,
and to respond to, regular enquiries from the general public by
telephone, e-mail and letter. To those who approached my office
with concerns about individual Members, we responded explaining
my role and, as appropriate, the extent of my remit, and the procedure
for submitting complaints, including the need for complainants
to supply sufficient evidence to justify an inquiry. To those
who asked about particular inquiries, my office replied in accordance
with the guidance approved by the Committee, directing enquirers
to published information where available or confirming, when asked,
whether or not a specific complaint against a particular Member
had been received and was under inquiry.[5]
In response to comments or questions about parliamentary processes,
or about Parliament as a whole, my office directed enquirers to
those best placed to respond.
Freedom of Information requests
2.3 During the year the House of Commons received
nine requests for information relating to my work under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000. The House responded to these requests
in accordance with the statutory procedures. Five of these requests
related to complaints about or investigations into Members or
Members' staff; two were about the registers of interests; one
asked for information about an All-Party Group; and one concerned
briefings for Members. A full or partial disclosure was made in
all cases except two where the House either did not hold the information
or did not confirm or deny whether information was held by virtue
of the exemption in the Act for personal information.
Responding to enquiries from the
media
2.4 My office responded to 140 media enquiries during
the year. The majority of these related to complaints or matters
under inquiry. In such cases my office confirmed, when asked,
whether or not a specific complaint had been received and whether
a matter was under inquiry, including referring to the information
on my webpages updated monthly setting out my current caseload.[6]
My office does not comment on the progress of particular inquiries
while they are in train but, once inquiries are completed, the
course and chronology of each inquiry is available in each memorandum
I submit to the Committee or otherwise on my webpages.
Relations with other standards
bodies
2.5 I am pleased to report that during the year my
office continued to maintain our contacts with the Standards Commissioners
for the devolved administrations. In particular I was grateful
to them for their contributions to my consultations on reviewing
the Code of Conduct and its associated Guide to the Rules. We
have also maintained our close working relationship with the Electoral
Commission with regular contacts at working level and meetings
when required.
International work and other presentations
2.6 My office has continued to provide presentations
and discussion sessions to visiting parliamentarians and parliamentary
staff. This year, in December 2011, I accompanied a Member of
the Committee on Standards and Privileges to the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe's Committee on Rules of Procedure,
Immunities and Institutional Affairs where I gave a presentation
on the role of the Commissioner. Alongside the Chair and the Clerk
of the House I gave evidence to the Australian House of Representative's
Privileges and Members Interests Committee. In the course of the
year I met with Tasmania's Parliamentary Standards Commissioner
and gave a presentation to interns from the University of Hull.
In addition, members of my office had meetings with representatives
from Angola, Mexico, Vietnam, Uganda and the Isle of Man.
2.7 Finally, I spoke in February 2012, at Oxford
University's 'Lessons in Government' seminar series. In that speech
I set out my views on the parliamentary standards framework established
on the four pillars of clarity, openness, accountability and support
and describe how this framework fits into the wider context of
standards in public life. The text of the speech is at Appendix
2.
Advice to Members and others
2.8 My office provides, as a core part of its work,
confidential advice to Members either by telephone, letter, e-mail
or face-to-face. This includes advice on registration and declaration
and on wider issues which could raise questions of propriety.
The Registrar and Executive Assistant advise on the Register of
Members' Financial Interests and the Assistant Registrar on the
Registers for staff, All-Party Groups and Journalists. Such advice
is confidential. It is disclosed only in the event of its becoming
relevant to one of my inquiries.
2.9 In addition, during the year the Registrar continued
the programme of briefings about the registration requirements
for both Members and their staff. Between March 2011 and March
2012, she held two seminars for Members and five for their staff.
Further sessions are planned for 2012-13.
5 Procedural Note, April 2012 http://www.parliament.uk/documents/documents/Procedural_Note-April_2012.pdf
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Procedural Note, April 2012 http://www.parliament.uk/documents/documents/Procedural_Note-April_2012.pdf Back
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