Commons Select Committee on Standards

The Commons Select Committee on Standards is appointed by the House of Commons to oversee the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

History

The committee was created on 13 December 2012 as one half of the replacements for the Committee on Standards and Privileges.[1] Following the expenses scandal, it was considered desirable for lay members to provide oversight of standards of conduct of MPs,[2] but it was not considered proper for individuals who were not members of parliament to make decisions on parliamentary privilege. The Standards and Privileges Committee was therefore split in two, with MPs (including the chair) by convention being elected to serve on both committees simultaneously, but with an additional cohort of lay members sitting on the Standards Committee.[3] In 2020 the new Independent Expert Panel took over the select committee's responsibility for cases involving bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct by MPs.

In the wake of the Owen Paterson affair in November 2021, the Conservative government proposed removing the lay members entirely, which would leave the Conservatives with a majority of control on a newly re-constituted committee. MPs backed these reforms in a Common vote, as well as overturning the 30-day suspension of Paterson that had been recommended by the committee. However, these reforms were abandoned the following day amid widespread criticism, including from Conservative MPs.[4] Paterson subsequently resigned as an MP.[5]

Membership

The committee and its composition are regulated by House of Commons standing orders 149 and 149A, which specify that it shall consist of seven MPs and seven lay members. Lay members are permitted to serve a single six-year term and cannot ever have been members of either house of Parliament. Unlike membership of other select committees, lay membership of the Standards Committee is not terminated by a parliamentary dissolution. The role of chair of the committee is reserved for a member of the official opposition. The government Attorney General and Solicitor General have a right of attendance, but are not members.[3]

As of October 2022, the members on the committee are as follows:[6]

Member Party Constituency
Sir Chris Bryant MP (Chair) Labour Rhondda
Alberto Costa MP Conservative South Leicestershire
Andy Carter MP Conservative Warrington South
Allan Dorans MP Scottish National Party Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Sir Bernard Jenkin MP Conservative Harwich and North Essex
Yvonne Fovargue MP Labour Makerfield
Sir Charles Walker MP Conservative Broxbourne
Tammy Banks Lay member
Victoria Smith Lay member
Rita Dexter Lay member
Mehmuda Mian Lay member
Michael Maguire Lay member
Paul Thorogood Lay member
Vacant lay member position

References
  1. "Role - Committee on Standards - UK Parliament". Parliament UK. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  2. "Public picked for Standards Committee looking into MPs' conduct". BBC News. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  3. "Erskine May, Committees on Standards and Privileges". Erskine May. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  4. "Boris Johnson to back bid to overturn Owen Paterson lobbying inquiry". the Guardian. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  5. "Owen Paterson resigns: Conservative ex-minister quits as MP after row over House of Commons suspension". Sky News. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  6. "Committee on Standards - Membership". UK Parliament. Retrieved 22 October 2022.


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