Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (Hansard, 23 November 2001)

§ David Winnick
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what discussions he has had with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over the decision that her contract is not to be renewed as a matter of course. [15549]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answer 16 November 2001]: The Speaker had a private meeting with the commissioner on 16 October.

§ David Winnick
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent consultations he has had with the Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life regarding the duties of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; and if he will make a statement. [15513]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answer 16 November 2001]: None. Although the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was established as a result of the work of the Nolan committee, the House of Commons Commission does not see a need to consult the Committee on Standards in Public Life each time the post of 485W commissioner is advertised. In any event, I understand that the Committee on Standards in Public Life does not concern itself with individual cases.

§ Peter Bottomley
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the words were of the advertisement for the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards on each of the occasions on which applications have been sought. [15732]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
I have already placed in the Library a copy of the advertisement which appeared in the national press on Sunday 4 November 2001, in response to the hon. Member's previous question on 2 November 2001,Official Report, column 863W. Copies of the advertisements which appeared in 1995 and 1998 will be placed in the Library today.

§ David Winnick
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the previous Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was offered a renewal of his contract. [14935]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answer 15 November 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Worthing, West (Peter Bottomley) on 2 November 2001, Official Report, column 864W.

§ Peter Bottomley
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, on what the assessment of the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is based; and whether the issues have been discussed with the present holder. [15281]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 November 2001,Official Report, column 863W.

§ Peter Bottomley
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what(a) written and (b) other sources of advice on best practice were relied on in agreeing (i) the terms of and (ii) the advertisement for the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [15279]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answer 15 November 2001]: As in all such matters, the commission is advised in confidence by the Department of Finance and Administration and the Legal Services Office. In this case, it has also been advised by the recruitment consultants Saxton Bampfylde Hever plc.

§ David Winnick
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what representations have been received on the performance of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards from(a) hon. Members and (b) non-members; and if he will make a statement. [14932]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answer 15 November 2001]: There have been no submissions to the Commission on the matter.

§ David Winnick
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what has been the average annual number of cases which the present Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has been investigating during her term of office. [14933]
486W

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answer 15 November 2001]: Over the past three years, complaints requiring assessment have averaged 120 a year. The commissioner completed an average of 14 full investigations a year, each resulting in a report to the Standards and Privileges Committee.

§ David Winnick
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the new contract for the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards will involve fewer working days than the present contract. [14931]

§ Norman Baker
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason(a) the hours required from and (b) the salary paid to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards are being reduced. [15535]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answers 15 and 19 November 2001]: The Commission believes that three days per week should be adequate to conduct the duties of the post. This is the level of time commitment that was established for the first commissioner. The figure of three days is not set in stone, and will be discussed with the successful candidate for the post. Salary is commensurate with hours worked.

§ Peter Bottomley
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when it was decided(a) to drop and (b) to reinstate the option of reappointment of the holder of the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards by mutual agreement. [15280]

§ Norman Baker
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the decision to offer the next Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards an extension to his or her contract by mutual agreement was not taken in respect of the present postholder. [15536]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answers 15 and 19 November 2001]: There has been no such decision. As to the position of the present commissioner, I refer the hon. Member to my answer today to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (David Winnick), column 483W.

§ David Winnick
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the Parliamentary Commissioner has not been offered an extension to her contract. [14934]

§ Norman Baker
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason it was decided not to renew without the requirement for open competition the contract of the current postholder of the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [15534]

§ Mr. Kirkwood
[holding answers 15 and 19 November 2001]: The appointment was made for a three-year term. Any extension or renewal would be a matter for agreement by both parties. The commission considered that a new appointment should be made following an open competition. The current commissioner is eligible to apply and may be appointed for a further three-year term if she applies for the post and is successful at the final short list stage.