HC Deb 04 December 2001 vol 376 cc164-5W
50. Mr. Heath

To ask the President of the Council to ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the House of Commons Commission has consulted the Select Committee on Standards and Privileges on the workload and future staffing requirements of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [17541]

Mr. Kirkwood

The Commission is in correspondence with the Chairman of the Committee on this subject.

David Winnick

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the duties of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [17538]

Mr. Kirkwood

The principal duties of the Commissioner are set out in Standing Order No. 150. In essence they areProviding advice on a confidential basis to individual Members and to the Select Committee on Standards and Privileges about the interpretation of the Code of Conduct and about questions of propriety. Receiving and investigating complaints about the conduct of Members (whether related directly to alleged breaches of the Code or not) and reporting the results of investigations to the Committee. Maintaining and monitoring the operation of the Register of Members' interests. Preparing guidance and providing induction courses for new Members on matters of conduct, propriety and ethics. Monitoring the operation of the Code of Conduct and, where appropriate, proposing possible modifications of it to the Standards and Privileges Committee.

Peter Bottomley

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answers to the hon. Members for Lewes (Norman Baker) and for Walsall, North (David Winnick), of 23 November 2001,Official Report, column 484W, on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, how many days a week the first Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was paid for in each year of his term of office. [19818]

Mr. Kirkwood

The first Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was paid throughout his appointment on the basis of working four days a week.