Strengthened Commons Standards Arrangements 'Strategic and Proportionate'
In his annual report for 2004-05, Sir Philip Mawer, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, describes his approach to regulating standards among MPs as 'strategic and proportionate':
"Strategic in the sense that it is proactive and focuses on the key issues; proportionate in that both policy matters and cases are handled in a manner appropriate to the intrinsic weight of the issues at stake."
Reflecting this approach, the report describes several steps which have been taken in the past year further to strengthen the House's standards arrangements. These include a review of the Code of Conduct for Members (a revised Code has recently been approved by the House) and improved procedures for briefing Members on standards issues, in particular following the opening of the new Parliament.
The report discloses that while the overall total of letters of complaint received by the Commissioner fell, there was a rise (from 96 to 118) in the number of specific complaints against a named Member compared with the total in the previous year. This reflected a sharp rise in the number of complaints in the second half of the year, partly attributable to the approach of the General Election and partly to a large number of complaints being made relating to one Member of the House whose case had been widely publicised. However only 3 Members featured in reports issued by the Committee on Standards and Privileges, which between them covered a total of 21 complainants.
The report emphasises the greater openness which now exists about the way the House's standards machinery operates, of which publication of the Commissioner's annual report is an example. The number of representatives of overseas Parliaments visiting London who seek briefing on the Westminster Parliament's arrangements is evidence of the widespread interest abroad as well as at home in these matters.
Commenting on his report, Sir Philip Mawer said:
"The past year has seen further consolidation of effective arrangements for maintaining high standards of conduct among MPs. The review of the Code of Conduct and improved arrangements for briefing Members on standards issues are just two examples of this.
Although the number of specific complaints against a named Member increased, this was largely due to fourteen complaints being made which all related to the same set of circumstances involving one Member of the House. There was some sign also of the number of complaints increasing as the General Election approached.
Whilst there can be no room for complacency, the finding of research published by the Committee on Standards in Public Life that 'sleaze' is of less concern to the public than it was is some encouragement for those of us concerned to ensure high standards in public and Parliamentary life that things are moving in the right direction."
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