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Effect of dissolution on the OPCS

Dissolution is the official term for the end of a Parliament. This note provides information on the effect of dissolution on the work of the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (OPCS).

Complaints

From 00:01 on the day of dissolution there are no Members of Parliament (MPs) until after the General Election. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (‘the Commissioner’) cannot investigate complaints about anything that takes place between the start of dissolution and the date of a general election, and he cannot investigate complaints about the conduct of candidates during the election campaign. 

During the dissolution period, the Commissioner cannot consider complaints about anything that took place before the start of dissolution. If you wish to submit a complaint, please wait until the start of the new Parliament, after the General Election. Information on how and what you need to provide to make a complaint can be found on the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards webpages.

The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards will not reply to complaints received before the start of the new Parliament, and will monitor this inbox and aim to reply to other correspondence as soon as possible. Complaints may be re-submitted at the start of the new Parliament: complainants should note the information on how and what you need to provide to make a complaint, as discussed in the preceding paragraph of this note.

During the dissolution period, the public-facing telephone line of the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is closed, as the Commissioner cannot accept complaints. That telephone line will re-open when the House of Commons first meets after the General Election.

You can find more information on the Commissioner’s role on the Parliament website. 

Code of Conduct cases

For Code of Conduct investigations, the Procedural Protocol in respect of the Code of Conduct[1] (paragraph 40) states that “if Parliament is dissolved, PCS will suspend their investigation until the Member is re-elected. If the Member is not returned to Parliament, the Commissioner will decide if it is appropriate and proportionate to resume their investigation.”

See also section 4 of this note, ‘Availability of welfare services during the dissolution period’.

During the dissolution period, while the Commissioner does not exercise decision-making powers, publish new investigations or the outcome of investigations, or initiate contact with external parties in ongoing Code of Conduct cases, the internal operational and administrative work of OPCS’s investigations team will continue.

Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme cases

For Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme cases (with MP respondents) that have been passed to the Commissioner by the point of dissolution for decision-making, the Commissioner will write to the parties to advise them that the case is paused.  

During the dissolution period, while the Commissioner does not exercise decision-making powers or initiate contact with external parties in ongoing ICGS cases, the internal operational and administrative work of OPCS’s investigations team will continue.

Availability of welfare services during the dissolution period

The House of Commons has published dissolution guidance for Members and Members’ Staff (pdf, 397KB) (published November 2023, revised March 2024). That guidance sets out the continuing availability of welfare services during the dissolution period:

  • “The Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service is available to advise on any health or wellbeing concerns.”
  • “The Individual Assistance Programme (IAP) for Members and the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for Members’ staff remain available 24/7. The IAP/EAP is a confidential and independent support service run by Health Assured which can provide advice on any issue affecting you, whether it is work-related, health or a personal matter.”
  • “If you feel you have experienced, witnessed, been accused of or are supporting someone with bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) Helpline can provide you with support and guidance on the options available to you and the processes involved. The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) Helpline is confidential, impartial and independent of Parliament. The Independent Sexual Misconduct Advisory Service (ISMA Service) is available via the helpline […] This is a free, independent and confidential support line for those who have experienced sexual misconduct/harassment.”

Register of Members’ Financial Interests

From 00:01 on the day of dissolution there are no Members of Parliament (MPs) until after the General Election. The Registers do not operate during the dissolution period and the registration portal will also be closed during that time.

After the General Election, new Members must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests (RMFI).

Members who are returned (that is, re-elected) must review their most recent entry in the RMFI (in the last Parliament) and submit any change to their registrable interests within one month of their election.

Thereafter, all Members must register any change to their registrable interests within 28 days.   

The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards will contact all Members to tell them how to register, to remind them of this deadline, and to offer support to help them fulfil their responsibilities under the Code of Conduct.

During the dissolution period, OPCS’s Registry Office cannot accept information relating to registrations, or information on donations received during the dissolution period – this information will need to be resubmitted to the Registry Office after the General Election.

  • The Electoral Commission provides advice and guidance for election candidates, and also monitors candidates’ compliance with the financial rules.
    • Following the announcement of a General Election, the Electoral Commission will make available comprehensive guidance for candidates and agents, covering the entire process of standing for election, including the rules about candidates’ election expenses and donations, which will all be available to download on the Commission’s website: electoralcommission.org.uk.

Register of Members’ staff interests (known as the ‘Staff Register’)

The last edition of the Register was published at Dissolution. The next edition will be published at the end of August.

Only passholders are included on the Register. During Dissolution the Pass Office automatically deactivates all staff passes. During Dissolution no new registers are produced, and no Register amendments can be submitted by staff till after the Election.

After the General Election, new staff will be given a registration form by the Pass Office when they apply for a pass.

Returning staff who held a pass before the General Election will only be required to complete a registration form if they have a new sponsoring Member and therefore require a new pass.

For returning staff whose sponsoring Member is unchanged from before the General Election, we will carry over their latest Register entry from the previous Parliament into the next edition of the Register.

Once a new pass has been physically collected from the Pass Office by the staff member concerned, the Pass Office send us the passholder’s completed registration form. We will send staff confirmation once we have received their completed registration form and created an entry for them on the Register.

Prior to publication we will use Pass Office data on current passholders to identify and remove from the Register staff who no longer hold a pass.

For more information see Staff Register.

Register of Journalists' interests

The last edition of the Register was published at Dissolution. The next edition will be published at the end of August.

During Dissolution no new registers are produced, and no Register amendments can be submitted by Journalists till after the Election.

Only passholders are included on the Register. Journalists retain their passes throughout Dissolution. The entries of journalists who were on the Register published at Dissolution will accordingly be carried over into the next edition of the Register.

For more information see Journalists Register.

All-Party Parliamentary Groups

The last edition of the Register was published at Dissolution. The next edition will be published at the end of August.

All APPGs cease to exist when Parliament is dissolved. After a General Election, if an APPG wants to operate in the new Parliament it must first reconstitute. To do this it must hold an Inaugural Meeting to elect its officers then apply for inclusion on the Register by completing the Registration Form for APPGs.

There is no deadline by which an APPGs must hold its Inaugural Meeting, but the APPG cannot conduct any business between Dissolution and its Inaugural Meeting.

For more information see All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

The Code of Conduct and former Members 

The Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members (Chapter 3, paragraph 17), in respect of lobbying, applies restrictions to former Members for six months after their departure from the House, and restricts the use of parliamentary passes.[2] 

Further information 

References

[1] Parliament.uk, Procedural Protocol in respect of the Code of Conduct

[2] The Code of Conduct and The Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, Chapter 3, paragraphs 17-19:

“17. Former Members must abide by the restrictions of the lobbying rules for six months after their departure from the House in respect of any approach they make to Ministers, other Members or public officials. Former Members may not use their privileged parliamentary pass for the purposes of lobbying on the parliamentary estate.

  1. These provisions do not apply to former Members who are Members of the House of Lords.
  2. The Committee on Standards and Privileges has indicated it would expect the Committee on Standards to regard it as a serious matter if a sitting Member were influenced in his or her actions by the prospect of becoming a paid lobbyist, or entered into improper agreements relating to future lobbying activities.”